LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 



DDDSDSEbBT? 




Class. 
Book. 



HISTORY -^ ^ 



OF 



WEXFORD COUNTY, MICHIGAN 



EMURACINd 



A Concise Review of its Early Settlement, Industrial Development and 

Present Conditions, 



COMPILED BY 



JOHN H. W^HEBLER 



TO \VHICH IS APPENDED 



A Comprehensive Compendium of National Biography and Life Sketches of 
Well-known Citizens of the County. 



ILLUSTRATED 



B. F. BOWEN 

PUBLISHER 



^^{^s-C^ 



/^-l^^'^ 



PUBLISHER'S PREFACE 



fN PLACING the History of Wexford County before the citizens, the pubHsher 
can conscientiously claim that he has carried out in full every promise made 
in the Prospectus. He points with pride to the elegance of the binding of 
the volume, and to the beauty of its typography, to the superiority of the paper on 
which the work is printed, and the truthfulness depicted by its portraits and the 
high class of art in which they are finished. Every biographical sketch has been 
submitted for approval and correction, to the person for whom it was written, and 
therefore any error of fact, if there be any, is solely due to the person for whom 
the sketch was prepared. The publisher wouM here avail himself of the opportunity 
to thank the citizens of Wexford County for the uniform kindness with which they 
have regarded this undertaking, and for their many setvices rendered in assisting 
in the gaining of necessary information. 

Confident that our efforts to please will fully meet the approbation of the 
public, we are. 

Respectfully, 

B. F. BowEN, Publisher. 



AUTHOR'S PREFACE 



♦0"N PREPARING the biography of any prominent person something of the scenes 
II and incidents contemporaneous with the Hfe of the individual are deemed 
essential to fully bring out motives and incentives that may have prompted 
the doings or sayings of the man or woman. It is often the case that lives of the 
parents and even earlier ancestors are alluded to to show the environments surround- 
ing the birth and early life of the person and how they may have helped or hindered 
in the early formation of character. 

The same is true in writing the history of a city or community. There are always 
reasons why people congregate in one place rather than another, in starting a village 
that may grow into a great city, and these reasons are always of interest to the 
reader and give him a far better conception of the subject matter that is to follow. 

What is true of an individual or a city is equally true of a county. There is 
always an interest in contemplating the reasons which lead people to leave an old 
settled country, where every facility for comfort and enjoyment are within reach, 
and emigrate to a wilderness country, remote from civilization, and destitute of even 
the most necessary conveniences that minister to the comfort of the individual. 

The "Forty-niners" journeyed across a continent in ten-o.x wagons for gold; and 
within the past few years we have seen a steady stream of adventurous people mi- 
grating to the frozen north-land, drawn thither by the glitter of the same shining 
object. The home-seekers in a new country are lured by no such glittering bauble. 
While it is no doubt true that every pioneer to a new country e.xpects to better his 
financial condition by the change, he knows that this betterment must come slowly, 
and must be accompanied with unceasing toil and untold privations. 

Bearing in mind these great privations and this continuous toil which is the lot 
of all pioneers, I have considered it important to devote the first part of this work 
to a review of some of the causes which led up to the early settlement, rapid growth 
and wonderful development of this section of the State, including Wexford County, 
after which the work will be confined entirely to the county. 

The Author. 



INDBX 



COMPENDIUM OF NATIONAL BIOGRAPHY 



PAGE 

Abbott, Lyman 144 

Adams, Charles Kendall 143 

Adams, John 25 

Adams. John Quincy 61 

Agassiz, Louis J. R 137 

Alger, Russell A 173 

Allison, William B 131 

Allston, Washington 190 

Altgeld, John Peter 140 

Andrews, Elisha B 184 

Anthony, Susan B 62 

Armour, Philip D 62 

Arnold. Benedict 84 

Arthur, Chester Allen 168 

Astor, John Jacob 139 

Audubon, John James 166 

Bailey, James Montgomery... 177 

Bancroft. George 74 

Barnard, Frederick A. P 179 

Barnum, Phineas T 41 

Barrett, Lawrence 156 

Barton, Clara 209 

Bayard, Thomas Francis 200 

Beard, William H 196 

Beauregard. Pierre G. T 203 

Beecher, Henry Ward 26 

Bell, Alexander Graham 96 

Bennett, James Gordon 206 

Benton, Thomas Hart 53 

Bergh, Henry 160 

Bierstadt, Albert 197 

Billings, Josh 166 

Blaine, James Gillespie 22 

Bland, Richard Parks 106 



PAGE 

Boone, Daniel 36 

Booth, Edwin 51 

Booth, Junius Brutus 177 

Brice, Calvin S 181 

Brooks, Phillips 130 

Brown, John 51 

Brown, Charles Farrar 91 

Brush, Charles Francis 153 

Bryan, Williain Jennings 158 

Bryant, William Cullcn 44 

Buchanan, Franklin 105 

Buchanan, James 128 

Buckner, Simon Boliver 188 

Burdette. Robert J 103 

Burr. Aaron 1 1 1 

Butler, Benjamin Franklin... 24 

Calhoun, John Caldwell 23 

Cameron, James Donald 141 

Cameron, Simon 141 

Cammack, Addison 197 

Campbell, Alexander 180 

Carlisle, John G 133 

Carnegie, Andrew 7i 

Carpenter. Matthew Hale.... 178 

Carson. Christopher (Kit)... 86 

Cass. Lewis no 

Chase, Salmon Portland 65 

Childs, George W 83 

Choafe. Rufus 207 

Chaflin. Horace Brigham 107 

Clay, Henry 21 

Clemens. Samuel Langhorne. 86 

Cleveland. Grovcr 174 

Clews, Henry 153 



PAGE 

Clinton, DeWitt no 

Colfax, Schuyler 139 

Conkling, Alfred 32 

Conkling. Roscoe 32 

Cooley, Thomas Mclntyre. . . . 140 

Cooper, James Fenimore 58 

Cooper, Peter 37 

Copeley, John Singleton 191 

Corbin, Austin 205 

Corcoran. W. W 196 

Cornell. Ezra 161 

Cramp, William 189 

Crockett. David 76 

CuUom, Shelby Moore 116 

Curtis, George William 144 

Cushman. Charlotte 107 

Custer, George A 95 

Dana. Charles A 88 

"Danbury News Man"' 177 

Davenport. Fanny 106 

Davis, Jefferson 24 

Debs, Eugene V 132 

Decatur, Stephen loi 

Deering, William 198 

Depew, Chauncey Mitchell... 209 

Dickinson, Anna 103 

Dickinson. Don M 139 

Dingley, Nelson. Jr 215 

Donnelly, Ignatius 161 

Douglas, Stephen Arnold.... 53 

Douglass, Frederick 43 

Dow, Neal 108 

Draper, John William 184 



INDEX— PART I. 



PAGE 

Drexel, Anthony Joseph 124 

Dupont, Henry 198 

Edison, Thomas Alva 55 

Edmunds, George F 201 

Ellsworth, Oliver 168 

Emerson, Ralph Waldo 57 

Ericsson. John 127 

Evarts, William Maxwell 89 

Farragut, David Glascoe.... 80 

Field, Cyrus West 173 

Field. David Dudley 126 

Field. Marshall 59 

Field, Stephen Johnson 216 

Fillmore, Millard 113 

Foote, Andrew Hull 176 

Foraker, Joseph B 143 

Forrest. Edwin 92 

Franklin, Benjamin 18 

Fremont. John Charles 29 

Fuller, Melville Weston 168 

Fulton, Robert 62 

Gage, Lyman J 71 

Gallatin, Albert 112 

Garfield, James A 163 

Barrett, John Work 200 

Garrison, William Lloyd 50 

Gates, Horatio 70 

Catling, Richard Jordan 116 

George. Henry 203 

Gibbons, Cardinal James 209 

Gilmore, Patrick Sarsfield.... 77 

Girard, Stephen 137 

Cough, John B 131 

Gould, Jay 52 

Cordon. John B 215 

Grant, Ulysses S 155 

Cray, Asa 88 

Gray. Elisha 149 

Greeley, Adolphus W 142 

Greeley, Horace 20 

Greene, Nathaniel 69 

Gresham, Walter Quintin . . . 183 

Hale, Edward Everett 79 

Hall. Charles Francis 167 

Hamilton, Alexander 31 

Hamlin. Hannibal 214 

Hampton, Wade 192 

Hancock, Winfield Scott 146 

Hanna, Marcus Alonzo 169 

Harris, Isham C 214 

Harrison, William Henry.... 87 

Harrison, Benjamin 182 

Harvard, John 129 

Havemeyer, John Craig 182 

Hawthorne. Nathaniel 135 

Hayes. Rutherford Birchard.. 157 

Hendricks, Thomas Andrew. . 212 

Henry. Joseph 105 

Henry. Patrick 83 

Hill, David Bennett 90 



PAGE 

Hohart. Garrett A 213 

Holmes, Oliver W^endell 206 

Hooker, Joseph 52 

Howe. Elias 130 

Ho wells, William Dean 104 

Houston, Sam 120 

Hughes, Archbishop John.... 157 

Hughitt, Marvin 159 

Hull, Isaac 169 

Huntington, Collis Potter.... 94 

Ingalls, John James 114 

Ingersoll. Robert G 85 

Irving, Washington ^2 

Jackson. Andrew 71 

Jackson, "Stonewall" 67 

Jackson, Thomas Jonathan.. 67 

jay, John 39 

Jefferson, Joseph 47 

Jefferson. Thomas 34 

Johnson, Andrew 145 

Johnson, Eastman 202 

Johnston. Joseph Eccleston. . 85 

Jones, James K 171 

Jones, John Paul 97 

Jones, Samuel Porter '15 

Kane, Elisha Kent 125 

Kearney, Philip 210 

Kenton. Simon 188 

Knox, John Jay 134 

Lamar, Lucius Q. C 201 

Landon, Melville D 109 

Lee, Robert Edward 38 

Lewis. Charles B 193 

Lincoln. Abraham 135 

Livermore, Mary Ashton 131 

Locke. David Ross 172 

Logan, John A 26 

Longfellow. Henry Wadsworth 37 

Longstreet, James 56 

Lowell, James Russell 104 

Mackay, John William 148 

Madison. James 42 

Marshall, John 156 

Mather, Cotton 164 

Mather, Increase 163 

Maxim. Hiram S 194 

McClellan. George Brinton.. 47 

McCormick. Cyrus Hall 172 

McDonough'. Com. Thomas. . 167 

McKinley. William 217 

Meade, George Gordon 75 

Medill, Joseph 159 

Miles, Nelson A 176 

Miller. Cincinnatus Heine. . . 218 

Miller, Joaquin 218 

Mills, Roger Quarles 211 

Monroe, James 54 

Moody, Dwight L 207 

Moran, Thomas 98 



PAGE 

Morgan, John Pierpont 208 

Morgan, John T 216 

Morris, Robert 165 

Morse, Samuel F. B 124 

-Morton, Levi P 142 

Morton, Oliver Perry 215 

Motley, John Lathrop 130 

"Nye, Bill" 59 

Nye. Edgar Wilson 59 

O'Conor. Charles 187 

Olney, Richard 133 

Paine. Thomas 147 

Palmer. John M 195 

Parkhurst. Charles Henry.... 160 

"Partington, Mrs." 202 

Peabody, George 170 

Peck. George W 187 

Peffer. William A 164 

Perkins, Eli 109 

Perry, Oliver Hazard 97 

Phillips, Wendell 30 

Pierce, Franklin 122 

Pingree. Hazen S 212 

Plant. Henry B 192 

Poe, Edgar Allen. .. 69 

Polk. James Knox 102 

Porter, David Dixon 68 

Porter, Noah 93 

Prentice. George Denison.... 119 
Prescott, William Hickling. . 96 
Pullman, George Mortimer. . 121 

Quad, M 193 

Quay, Matthew S 171 

Randolph, Edmund 136 

Read. Thomas Buchanan.... 132 

Reed, Thomas Brackett 208 

Reid. Whitelaw 149 

Roacli. John 190 

Rockefeller, John Ravison... igs 

Root, George Frederick 218 

Rothermel, Peter F 113 

Rutledge, John 57 

Sage. Russell 211 

Schoficld. John McAlister. . . . igg 

Schurz. Carl ■ 201 

Scott, Thomas Alexander.... 204 

Scott, Winfield 79 

Seward, William Henry 44 

Sharon, William 165 

Shaw. Henry W 166 

Sheridan, Phillip Henry 40 

Sherman. Charles R 87 

Sherman. John 86 

Sherman. William Tecumseh. 30 
Shillaber. Benjamin Penhallow 202 

Smith, Edmund Kirby 114 

Sousa. John Philip.. 60 

Spreckles, Claus 159 



INDEX— PART I. 



PAGE 

Stanford, Leiand loi 

Stanton, Edwin McMasters. . 179 

Stanton, Elizabeth Cady 126 

Stephens, Alexander Hamilton 32 

Stephenson, Adlai Ewing. ... 141 

Stewart. Alexander T 58 

Stewart, William Morris.... 213 
Stowe, Harriet Elizabeth 

Beecher 66 

Stuart, James E. B 122 

Sumner, Charles 34 

Talmage, Thomas DeWitt... 60 

Taney, Roger Brooks 129 

Taylor, Zachary 108 

Teller, Henry M 127 

Tesla. Nikola 193 

Thomas, George H "/t, 

Thomas, Theodore 172 

Thurman, Allen G 90 



PACE 

Thurs-ton, John^M 166 

Tilden, Samuel J 48 

Tillman, Benjamin Ryan.... 119 

Toombs, Robert 205 

"/Twain. Mark" 86 

Tyler, John 93 

Van Buren, Martin 78 

Vanderbilt, Cornelius 35 

Vail, Alfred 154 

Vest, George Graham 214 

Vilas, William Freeman 140 

Voorhees, Daniel Wolsey.... 95 

Waite, Morrison Remich 125 

Wallace, Lewis 199 

Wallack, Lester 121 

Wallack, John Lester 121 

Wanamaker, John 89 

Ward, "Artemus" 91 



PAGE 

Washburne, Elihu Benjamin. . 189 

Washington, George 17 

Watson, Thomas E 178 

Watterson, Henry 76 

Weaver, James B 123 

Webster, Daniel 19 

Webster. Noah 49 

Weed, Thurlow 91 

West, Benjamin 113 

Whipple. Henry Benjamin... 161 

White, Stephen V 162 

Whitefield, George 150 

Whitman, Walt 197 

Whitney, Eli 120 

Whitney, William Collins.... 92 

Whittier, John Greenleaf 67 

Willard, Frances E 133 

Wilson, William L 180 

Winchell, Alexander 175 

Windom, William 138 



PORTRAITS OF NATIONAL CELEBRITIES. 



PAGE 

Alger, Russell A 16 

Allison, William B 99 

Anthony, Susan B 63 

Armour, Philip D 151 

Arthur, Chester A 81 

Barnum, Phineas T 117 

Beecher, Henry Ward 27 

Blaine, James G 151 

Booth, Edwin 63 

Bryan, Wm. J 63 

Bryant, William Cullen 185 

Buchanan, James 81 

Buckner, Simon B 16 

Butler, Benjamin F 151 

Carlisle. John G 151 

Chase. Salmon P 16 

Childs. George W 99 

Clay, Henry 81 

Cleveland, Grover 45 

Cooper. Peter 99 

Dana, Charles A 151 

Depew, Chauncey M 117 

Douglass, Fred 63 

Emerson. Ralph Waldo 27 

Evarts, William M 99 

Farragut, Com. D. G 185 

Field, Cyrus W 63 



PAGE 

Field. Marshall 117 

Franklin, Benjamin 63 

Fremont, Gen. John C 16 

Gage, Lyman J 151 

Garfield. James A 45 

Garrison. William Lloyd.... 63 

George, Henry 117 

Gould, Jay 99 

Grant, Gen. U. S 185 

Greeley. Horace 81 

Hampton, Wade 16 

Hancock, Gen. Winfield S.... 185 

Hanna. Mark A 117 

Harrison, Benjamin 81 

Hayes, R. B 45 

Hendricks. Thomas A 81 

Holmes. Oliver W 151 

Hooker. Gen. Joseph 16 

Ingersoll. Robert G 117 

Irving, Washington 27 

Jackson. Andrew 45 

Jefferson. Thomas 4S 

Johnston, Gen. J. E 16 

Lee, Gen. Robert E 185 

Lincoln, Abraham 81 

Logan, Gen. John A 16 

Longfellow. Henry W 185 



PAGE 

Longstreet, Gen. James 16 

Lowell. James Russell 27 

McKinley, William 45 

Morse, S. F. B 185 

Phillips, Wendell 27 

Porter, Com. D. D i8s 

Pullman. George M 117 

Quay, M. S 99 

Reed, Thomas B 151 

Sage, Russell 117 

Scott, Gen. Winiield 185 

Seward, William H 45 

Sherman, John 99 

Sherman, Gen. W. T 151 

Stanton. Elizabeth Cady 27 

Stowe, Harriet Beecher 27 

Sumner, Charles 45 

Talmage. T. DeWitt 6^ 

Teller, Henry M 99 

Thurman, Allen G 81 

Tilden. Samuel J 117 

Van Buren, Martin 81 

Vanderbilt. Commodore 99 

Webster, Daniel 27 

Whittier, John G 27 

Washington, George 45 

Watterson, Henry 63 



INDEX-HISTORICAL 



PAGE. 

Chapter I — Michigan 210 

II — Kautawaubet or Wexford County 22.'! 

Ill — Arrival of New Settlers Continues 227 

IV— First Election 232 

V— First Railroad 239 

VI — Woman Suffrage — State Census — County Elections — Bear Trapping 244 

VII — The County Seat — Efforts to Secure its Removal from Sherman — Schemes to Prevent 

- Removal —Final Result 249 

VIII — New Judicial Circuit — Greenback Party 25(5 

IX — New Railroad--New Villages — New Impetus to Farming and Lumbering , 262 

X — City and Village Organizations 209 

XI — Our Honored Dead Pioneers 299 

XII— Old Pioneers Who Have Removed from Our Midst 310 



INDEX BIOGRAPHICAL 



PAGE. 
A 

Allen, George 430 

Anderson, Aaron F 546 

Anderson, Gustave 459 

Anderson, Johannas 551 

Auer, Henry C 385 

AveriU, David B 498 

B 

Baker, James A 545 

Ballou, Henry 410 

Bechtel, Charles J 521 

Billings, Henry M 556 

Blue, George W 360 

Bostick, Charles H 550 

Boyd, Marion B 525 

Boynton, Elisha M 345 

Bredahl, Rasmus P 514 

Brehm, Edward C 389 

Burman, Axel G 522 

C 

Cadillac State Bank 337 

Callis, T. Henry 461 

Carlson. Charles J 434 

Carnahan, Samuel 404 

Cassety, Samuel J 387 

Chittenden, Hon. Clyde C... 325 

Cobbs, Frank J 321 

Cobbs, Jonathan \V 365 

Colvin, Marvin D 463 

Corlett, Thomas A., M. D. . .. 517 

Cornell, Elon 448 

Co.\, Edward 382 

Crawford. Ralph W 457 

Crosby, Thomas W 392 

Cummer, Jacob 327 

Cummer, Wellington W 338 

Curtis, D.W 408 

D 

Daugherly, Chester C 495 

Davidson, Donald 374 

Dayhuff, Mrs. Cynthia 480 

Denike, Andrew B 400 



PAGE. 

Denike, Thomas P 509 

De\oe, Henry 1 487 

Diggins, Fred A 324 

Discher, Jacob 534 

Drury, Charles H 478 

Dunbar, John 413 

Dunham, Charles C 473 

Dunham, Nelson H 524 

Dunton, Lucius A 453 

Dutton, Charles W 436 

E 

Evilts, John A 496 

F 

Fales, Willford D 381 

Frederick, George A 515 

Frederick, Reuben D 489 

G 

Gasser, Sanford 435 

Gates, Lucas W .553 

Gilbert, Esedore 464 

Goldsmith, John 438 

Goodyear, Frank L 476 

Graham, George S .^49 

Gray, Taylor W 481 

Gray, William H 508 

Guernsey, Willis D 358 

Gustafson, John A 402 

H 

Hagstrom, Carl E 422 

Hagstrom, Otto 423 

Hansen, Henry 426 

Hanthorn, James 396 

Harger, Ezra 537 

Harvey, John 458 

Haskin, John A 399 

Haynes, James 492 

Hector, Frederick W 380 

Hodgson, Thomas 440 

Hogue,JohnR 510 

Holmberg, Andrew 377 

Huff, Henry B 394 



PAGE. 

Huntley, Victor F., M. D ... 506 

Hutzler, Horace G .'■)47 

J 

Jenkins, Ira 502 

Johnson, Andrew 519 

K 

Kaiser, Daniel E 4,56 

Kellogg, Phillip 528 

Kelley, William 497 

Kluss, John 427 

Kneeland, Dr. Howard S 518 

Knowlton, Henry 342 

L 

Lake, George A 349 

Loveless, William W 376 

M 

McBrian, Nelson 403 

McCane, Joseph .520 

McCoy, Daniel 467 

Mclntyre, Donald 'E 334 

McNitt, Henry C 4.50 

McNitt, William 536 

Macey, Lester C 445 

Manning, John H 424 

Mansfield, James E 491 

Massey, Richard W 485 

Miller, Carroll E., M. D 354 

Miller, Humphrey W 432 

Mitchell, Austin W 370 

Mitchell, George A 318 

Mitchell, William W 322 

Moffit, Edward G 3.57 

Morgan, Edward, M. D 512 

Morken, Elias 471 

N 

Neilson, Nels 487 

Nichols, Isaac 386 

Nichols, John J 505 

Nordstrom, Nels P 469 

Norris, Richard C 532 



INDEX— BIOGRAPHICAL. 



PAGE. 

o 

Olsen, John 443 

Ostensen, Hans 530 

Otis, George H 364 

P 

Parker, John T 368 

Parker, Lyman E 540 

Payne, Henry 1 418 

Peck, Alvah 397 

Peck, KIwood 483 

Peterson, Carl B 541 

Powers, Perry F 362 

Prud'homme, Rev. L. M 378 

R 

Reynolds George A 504 

Reynolds, Norman A 534 

Rose, William 351 

Rydquist, Peter A 416 

S 

Saunders, William L 331 

Sawyer, Eugene F 346 



PAGE. 

Seaman, Sylvester R 463 

Seaman, Warren 428 

Shaver, William H 412 

Smith, Albert L 442 

Smith, Elijah 466 

Smith, N. Jacob 472 

Smith, Ward P 527 

Southwick, Albert B 488 

Southwick, W. E 431 

Stanley, George S 391 

St. Ann's Church 379 

Starkweather, Isaac 405 

Stewart, Joseph :!59 

Sturtevant, Heman B 383 

Sturtevant, Walter L 409 

T 

Teed, George C 390 

Terwilliger, J. M 333 

Thomas, George E 420 

Tibbits, Lemuel A 516 

Torrey, John S 419 



PAGE. 

Torrey, Nelson R 415 

Tripp, Lewis J 353 

Tweedie, Ariel W 406 

Tyler, Cyril H 451 

V 

\'ance, Asaph T 477 

W 

Waddell, Robert M 369 

Wall, Samuel J 538 

Warden, Joshua M., M. D. . . 372 

Webber, Arthur H 454 

Westbrook, William P 395 

Westover, George D 446 

Whaley, James 417 

Wheeler, John H 317 

Wheeler, Porter 500 

Williams, George F 542 

Williams, Walter S 554 

Wilson, Lewis T 367 




COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY 

. . OF . . 

Celebrated Americans 




■■9 t-* 

Jl ^^ |eORGE WASHINGTON, 

?| 1 -J^ I the first president of the Unit- 
1-s ^*^" f ed States, called the "Father 
> yy/;v<|r>n<y^ <fr of his Country," was one of 
^^^^ the most celebrated characters 
"^^^ in history. He was born Feb- 
* ruary 22, 1732, in Washing- 

ton Parish, Westmoreland county, Virginia. 
His father, Augustine Washington, first 
married Jane Butler, who bore him four 
children, and March 6, 1730, he .married 
Mary Ball. Of six children by his second 
marriage, George was the eldest. 

Little is known of the early years of 
Washington, beyond the fact that the house 
in which he was born was burned during his 
early childhood, and that his father there- 
upon moved to another farm, inherited from 
his paternal ancestors, situated in Stafford 
county, on the north bank of the Rappahan- 
nock, and died there in 1743. From earliest 
childhood George developed a noble charac- 
ter. His education was somewhat defective, 
being confined to the elementary branches 
taught him by his mother and at a neighbor- 
ing school. On leaving school he resided 
some time at Mount Vernon with his half 

••niifht Her. l; Uia i. Ujl. > c«. 



brother, Lawrence, who acted as bis guar, 
dian. George's inclinations were for a sea- 
faring career, and a midshipman's warrant 
was procured for him; but through the oppo- 
sition of his mother the project was aban- 
doned, and at the age of sixteen he was 
appointed surveyor to the immense estates 
of the eccentric Lord Fairfax. Three years 
were passed by Washington in a rough fron- 
tier life, gaining experience which afterwards 
proved very essential to him In 175 1, 
when the Virginia militia were put under 
training with a view to active service against 
France, Washington, though only nineteen 
years of age, was appointed adjutant, with 
the rank of major. In 1752 Lawrence 
Washington died, leaving his large property 
to an infant daughter. In his will George 
was named one of the executors and as an 
eventual heir to Mount Vernon, and by the 
death of the infant niece, soon succeeded to 
that estate. In 1753 George was commis- 
sioned adjutant-general of the Virginia 
militia, and performed important work at 
the outbreak of the French and Indian 
war, was rapidly promoted, and at the close of 
that war we find him commander-in-chief of 



18 



COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY. 



all the forces raised in Virginia. A cessation 
of Indian hostilities on the frontier having 
followed the expulsion of the French from 
the Ohio, he resigned his commission as 
commander-in-chief of the Virginia forces, 
and then proceeded to Williamsburg to take 
his seat in the Virginia Assembly, of which 
he had been elected a member. 

January 17, 1759, Washington marred 
Mrs. Martha (Dandridge) Curtis, a young 
and beautiful widow of great wealth, and 
devoted himself for the ensuing fifteen years 
to the quiet pursuits of agriculture, inter- 
rupted only by the annual attendance in 
winter upon the colonial legislature at 
Williamsburg, until summoned by his coun- 
try to enter upon that other arena in which 
his fame was to become world-wide. The 
war for independence called Washington 
into service again, and he was made com- 
mander-in-chief of the colonial forces, and 
was the most gallant and conspicuous figure 
in that bloody struggle, serving until Eng- 
land acknowledged the independence of 
each of the thirteen States, and negotiated 
with them jointly, as separate sovereignties. 
December 4, 1783, the great commander 
took leave of his officers in most affection- 
ate and patriotic terms, and went to An- 
napolis, Maryland, where the congress of 
the States was in session, and to that body, 
when peace and order prevailed everywhere, 
resigned his commission and retired to 
Mount Vernon. 

It was in 1789 that Washington was 
called to the chief magistracy of the na- 
tion. The inauguration took place April 
30, in the presence of an immense multi- 
tude which had assembled to witness the new 
and imposing ceremony. In the manifold de- 
tails of his civil administration Washington 
proved himself fully equal to the requirements 
of his position. In 1792, at the second presi- 



dential election, Washington was desirous 
to retire; but he yielded to the general wish 
of the country, and was again chosen presi- 
dent. At the third election, in 1796, he 
was again most urgently entreated to con- 
sent to remain in the executive chair. This 
he positively refused, and after March 4, 
1797, he again retired to Mount Vernon 
for peace, quiet, and repose. 

Of the call again made on this illustrious 
chief to quit his repose at Mount Ver- 
non and take command of all the United 
States forces, with rank of lieutenant-gen- 
eral, when war was threatened with France 
in 1798, nothing need here be stated, ex- 
cept to note the fact as an unmistakable 
testimonial of the high regard in which he 
was still held by his countrymen of all 
shades of political opinion. He patriotic- 
ally accepted this trust, but a treaty of 
peace put a stop to all action under it. He 
again retired to Mount Vernon, where he 
died December 14, 1799, in the sixty-eighth 
year of his age. His remains were depos- 
ited in a family vault on the banks of the 
Potomac, at Mount Vernon, where they still 
lie entombed. 

BENJAMIN FRANKLIN, an eminent 
American statesman and scientist, was 
born of poor parentage, January 17, 1706, 
in Boston, Massachusetts. He was appren- 
ticed to his brother James to learn the print- 
er's trade to prevent his running away and 
going to sea, and also because of the numer- 
ous family his parents had to support (there 
being seventeen children, Benjamin being 
the fifteenth). He was a great reader, and 
soon developed a taste for writing, and pre- 
pared a number of articles and had them 
published in the paper without his brother's 
knowledge, and when the authorship be- 
came known it resulted in difficulty for the 



COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHT. 



r3 



young apprentice, although his articles had 
been received with favor by the public. 
James was afterwards thrown into prison for 
political reasons, and young Benjamin con- 
ducted the paper alone during the time. In 
1823, however, he determined to endure his 
bonds no longer, and ran away, going to 
Philadelphia, where he arrived with only 
three pence as his store of wealth. With 
these he purchased three rolls, and ate them 
as he walked along the streets. He soon 
found employment as a journeyman printer. 
Two years later he was sent to England by 
the governor of Pennsylvania, and was 
promised the public printing, but did not get 
it. On his return to Philadelphia he estab- 
lished the "Pennsylvania Gazette," and 
soon found himself a person of great popu- 
larity in the province, his ability as a writer, 
philosopher, and politician having reached 
the neighboring colonies. He rapidly grew 
in prominence, founded the Philadelphia Li- 
brary in 1842, and two years later the 
American Philosophical Society and the 
University of Pennsylvania. He was made 
Fellow of the Royal Society in London in 
1775. His world-famous investigations in 
electricity and lightning began in 1746. He 
became postmaster-general of the colonies 
in 1753. having devised an inter-colonial 
postal system. He advocated the rights of 
the colonies at all times, and procured the 
repeal of the Stamp Act in 1766. He was 
elected to the Continental congress of 1775, 
and in 1776 was a signer of the Declaration 
of Independence, being one of the commit- 
tee appointed to draft that paper. He rep- 
resented the new nation in the courts of 
Europe, especially at Paris, where his simple 
dignity and homely wisdom won him the 
admiration of the court and the favor of the 
people. He was governor of Pennsylvania 
tour vears; was also a member of the con- 



vention in 1787 that drafted the constitution 
of the United States. 

His writings upon political topics, anti- 
slavery, finance, and economics, stamp him 
as one of the greatest statesmen of his time, 
while his "Autobiography" and "Poor 
Richard's Almanac " give him precedence in 
the literary field. In early life he was an 
avowed skeptic in religious matters, but 
later in life his utterances on this subject 
were less extreme, though he never ex- 
pressed approval of any sect or creed. He 
died in Philadelphia April 17, 1790. 



DANIEL WEBSTER.— Of world wide 
reputation for statesmanship, diplo- 
macy, and oratory, there is perhaps no more 
prominent figure in the history of our coun- 
try in the interval between 181 5 and 1861, 
than Daniel Webster. He was born at 
Salisbury (now Franklin), New Hampshire, 
January 18, 1782, and was the second son 
of Ebenezer and Abigail (Eastman) Webster. 
He enjoyed but limited educational advan- 
tages in childhood, but spent a few months 
in 1797, at Phillip Exeter Academy. He 
completed his preparation for college in the 
family of Rev. Samuel Wood, at Boscawen, 
and entered Dartmouth College in the fall 
of 1797. He supported himself most of the 
time during these years by teaching school 
and graduated in 1801, having the credit of 
being the foremost scholar of his class. He 
entered the law office of Hon. Thomas W. 
Thompson, at Salisbury. In 1S02 he con- 
tinued his legal studies at Fryeburg, Maine, 
where he was principal of the academy and 
copyist in .the office of the register of 
deeds. In the office of Christopher Gore, 
at Boston, he completed his studies in 
1804-5, ^nd was admitted to the bar in the 
latter year, and at Boscawen and at Ports- 
mouth soon rose to eminence in his profes- 



20 



COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHT. 



sion. He became known as a federalist 
but did not court political honors; but, at- 
tracting attention by his eloquence in oppos- 
ing the war with England, he was elected 
to congress in 1S12. During the special 
session of May, 181 3, he was appointed on 
4 the committee on foreign affairs and made 
his maiden speech June 10, 1S13. Through- 
out this session (as afterwards) he showed 
his mastery of the great economic questions 
of the day. He was re-elected in 1S14. In 
1 8 16 he removed to Boston and for seven 
years devoted himself to his profession, 
Jarning by his arguments in the celebrated 
"Dartmouth College Case" rank among 
(he most distinguished jurists of the country. 
\n 1820 Mr. Webster was chosen a member 
of the state convention of Massachusetts, to 
revise the constitution. The same year he 
delivered the famous discourse on the "Pil- 
grim fathers," which laid the foundation for 
his fame as an orator. Declining a nomi- 
nation for United States senator, in 1822 he 
was elected to the lower house of congress 
and was re-elected in 1824 and 1826, but in 
1827 was transferred to the senate. He 
retained his seat in the latter chamber until 
1 841. During this time his voice was ever 
lifted in defence of the national life and 
honor and although politically opposed to 
him he gave his support to the administra- 
tion of President Jackson in the latter's con- 
test with nullification. Through all these 
rears he was ever found upon the side of 
eight and justice and his speeches upon all 
ihe great questions of the day have be- 
come household words in almost every 
family. In 1841 Mr. Webster was appointed 
secretary of state by President Harrison 
and was continued in the same office by 
President Tyler. W^hile an incumbent of 
this office he showed consummate ability as 
a diplomat in the negotiation of the " Ash- 



burton treaty " of August 9, 1849, which 
settled many points of dispute between the 
United States and England. In May, 1843, 
he resigned his post and resumed his pro- 
fession, and in December, 1845, took his 
place again in the senate. He contributed 
in an unofficial wa\' to the solution of the 
Oregon question with Great Britain in 1S47. 
He was disappointed in 1848 in not receiv- 
ing the nomination for the presidency. He 
became secretary of state under President 
Fillmore in 1S50 and in dealing with all the 
complicated questions of the day showed a 
wonderful mastery of the arts of diplomacy. 
Being hurt in an accident he retired to his 
home at Marshfield, where he died Octo- 
ber 24, 1852. 

HORACE GREELEY.— As journalist, 
author, statesman and political leader, 
there is none more widely known than the 
man whose name heads this article. He 
was born in Amherst, New Hampshire, Feb- 
ruary 3, 181 1, and was reared upon a farm. 
At an early age he evinced a remarkable 
intelligence and love of learning, and at 
the age of ten had read every book he could 
borrow for miles around. About 1821 the 
family removed to Westhaven, Vermont, 
and for some years young Greeley assisted 
in carrying on the farm. In 1826 he entered 
the office of a weekly newspaper at East 
Poultne}-, Vermont, where he remained 
about four years. On the discontinuance 
of this paper he followed his father's 
family to Erie county, Pennsylvania, 
whither they had moved, and for a time 
worked at the printer's trade in that neigh- 
borhood. In I S3 1 Horace went to New 
York City, and for a time found employ- 
ment as journeyman printer. January, 
1833, in partnership with Francis Story, he 
published the Morning Post, the first penny 



COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY. 



paper ever printed. This proved a failure 
and was discontinued after three weeks. 
The business of job printing was carried on, 
however, until the death of Mr. Story in 
July following. In company with Jonas 
Winchester, March 22, 1834, Mr. Greeley 
commenced the publication of the New 
Yorker, a weekly paper of a high character. 
For financial reasons, at the same time, 
Greeley wrote leaders for other papers, and, 
in 1838, took editorial charge of the Jeffer- 
soniau, a Whig paper published at .ALlbany. 
In 1840, on the discontinuance of that sheet, 
he devoted his energies to the Log Cabin, a 
campaign paper in the interests of the Whig 
party. In the fall of 1S41 the latter paper 
was consolidated with the Ne7^' Yorker, un- 
der the name of the Tribune, the first num- 
ber of which was issued April 10, 1S41. At 
the head of this paper Mr. Greeley remained 
until the day of his death. 

In 1848 Horace Greeley was elected to 
the national house of representatives to 
fill a vacancy, and was a member of that 
body until March 4, 1849. In 1851 he went 
to Europe and served as a juror at the 
World's Fair at the Crystal Palace, Lon- 
'don. In 1855, he made a second visit to 
the old world. In 1S59 he crossed the 
plains and received a public reception at 
San Francisco and Sacramento. He was a 
member of the Republican national con- 
vention, at Chicago in i860, and assisted in 
the nomination of Abraham Lincoln for 
President. The same year he was a presi- 
dential elector for the state of New York, 
and a delegate to the Loyalist convention 
at Philadelphia. 

At the close of the war, in 1865, Mr. 
Greeley became a strong advocate of uni- 
versal amnesty and complete pacification, 
and in pursuance of this consented to be- 
come one of the bondsmen for Jefferson 



Davis, who was imprisoned for treason. In 
1867 he was a delegate to the New York 
state convention for the revision of the 
constitution. In 1870 he was defeated for 
congress in the Sixth New York district. 
At the Liberal convention, which met in 
Cincinnati, in May, 1872, on the fifth ballot 
Horace Greeley was nominated for presi- 
dent and July following was nominated for 
the same office by the Democratic conven- 
tion at Baltimore. He was defeated by a 
large majority. The large amount of work 
done by him during the campaign, together 
with the loss of his wife about the same 
time, undermined his strong constitution, 
and he was seized with inflammation of the 
brain, and died November 29, 1872. 

In addition to his journalistic work. Mr. 
Greeley was the author of several meritori- 
ous works, among which were: "Hints 
toward reform," "Glances at Europe," 
' ' History of the struggle for slavery exten 
sion," "Overland journey to San Francis- 
co, " " The American conflict," and " Rec- 
ollections of a busy life." 



HENRY CLAY. — In writing of this em- 
inent American, Horace Greeley once 
said: " He was a matchless party chief, an 
admiirable orator, a skillful legislator, wield- 
ing unequaled influence, not only over his 
friends, but even over those of his political 
antagonists who were subjected to the magic 
of his conversation and manners. " A law- 
yer, legislator, orator, and statesman, few 
men in history have wielded greater influ- 
ence, or occupied so prominent a place in 
the hearts of the generation in which they 
lived. 

Henry Clay was born near Richmond, 
in Hanover county, \'irginia, April 12, 
1777, the son of a poor Baptist preacher 
who died when Henry was but five j'ears 



COMPENDIUM OF BJOGRAPHT. 



old. The mother married again about ten 
years later and lemoved to Kentucky leav- 
ing Henry a clerk in a store at Richmond. 
Soon afterward Henry Clay secured a posi- 
tion as copyist in the office of the clerk of the 
high court of chancery, and four years later 
entered the law office of Robert Brooke, 
then attorney general and later governor of 
his native state. In 1797 Henry Clay was 
licensed as a lawyer and followed his mother 
to Kentucky, opening an office at Lexington 
and soon built up a profitable practice. 
Soon afterward Kentucky, in separating from 
Virginia, called a state convention for the 
purpose of framing a constitution, and Clay 
at that tim.e took a prominent part, publicly 
urging the adoption of a clause providing 
for the abolition of slavery, but in this he 
was overruled, as he was fifty years later, 
when in the height of his fame he again ad- 
vised the same course when the state con- 
stitution was revised in 1850. Young Clay 
took a very active and conspicuous part in 
the presidential campaign in 1800, favoring 
the election of Jefferson; and in 1803 was 
chosr^n to represent Fayette county in the 
state 'egislature. In 1806 General John 
Adair, then United States senator from 
Kentucky, resigned and Henry Clay was 
elected to fill the vacancy by the legislature 
and served through one session in which he 
at once assumed a prominent place. In 
1807 he. was again a representative in the 
legislature and was elected speaker of the 
house. At this time originated his trouble 
with Humphrey Marshall. Clay proposed 
that each member clothe himself and family 
wholly in American fabrics, which Marshall 
characterized as the " language of a dema- 
gogue." This led to a duel in which both 
parties were slightly injured. In 1809 
Henry Clay was again elected to fill a va- 
cancy in the United States senate, and two 



years later elected representative in tne low- 
er house of congress, being chosen speaker 
of the house. About this time war was de- 
clared against Great Britain, and Clay took 
a prominent public place during this strug- 
gle and was later one of the commissioners 
sent to Europe by President Madison to ne- 
gotiate peace, returning in September, 181 5. 
having been re-elected speaker of the 
house during his absence, and was re-elect- 
ed unanimously. He was afterward re- 
elected to congress and then became secre- 
tary of state under John Quincy Adams. 
In 1 83 1 he was again elected senator from 
Kentucky and remained in the senate most 
of the time until his death. 

Henry Clay was three times a candidate 
for the presidency, and once very nearly 
elected. He was the unanimous choice of 
the Whig party in 1 844 for the presidenc}', 
and a great effort was made to elect him 
but without success, his opponent, James K. 
Polk, carrying both Pennsylvania and New 
York by a very slender margin, while either 
of them alone would have elected Clay. 
Henry Clay died at Washington Juoe 29, 
1852. 

TAMES GILLESPIE BLAINE was one 
<J of the most distinguished of American 
statesmen and legislators. He was born 
January 31, 1830, in Washington county, 
Pennsylvania, and received a thorough edu- 
cation, graduating at Washington College in 
1847. In early life he removed to Maine 
and engaged in newspaper work, becoming 
editor of the Portland ' 'Advertiser. " While 
yet a young man he gained distinction as a 
debater and became a conspicuous figure in 
political and public affairs. In 1862 he was 
elected to congress on the Republican ticket 
in Maine and was re-elected five times. In 
March, 1869, he was chosen speaker of the 



COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHT. 



23 



house of representatives and was re-elected 
in 1 8/ I and again in i S73. In i S76 he was 
a representative in the lower house of con- 
gress and during that year was appointed 
United States senator by the Governor to 
fill a vacancy caused by the resignation of 
Senator Morrill, who had been appointed 
secretary of the treasury. Mr. Blaine 
served in the senate until March 5, 18S1, 
when President Garfield appointed him sec- 
retary of state, which position he resigned 
in December, 1881. Mr. Blaine was nom- 
inated for the presidency by the Republic- 
ans, at Chicago in June, 1884, but was de- 
feated by Grover Cleveland after an exciting 
and spirited campaign. During the later 
years of his life Mr. Blaine devoted most of 
his time to the completion of his work 
"Twenty Years in Congress," which had a 
remarkably large sale throughout the United 
States. Blaine was a man of great mental 
ability and force of character and during the 
latter part of his life was one of the most 
noted men of his time. He was the origina- 
tor of what is termed the " reciprocity idea" 
in tariff matters, and outlined the plan of 
carrying it into practical effect. In 1876 
Robert G. Ingersoll in making a nominating 
speech placing Blaine's name as a candidate 
for president before the national Republican 
convention at Cincinnati, referred to Blaine 
as the " Plumed Knight " and this title clung 
to him during the remainder of his life. His 
death occurred at Washington, January 27, 
1893. 

JOHN CALDWELL CALHOUN, a dis- 
kJ tinguished American statesman, was a 
native of South Carolina, born in Abbeville 
district, March 18, 1782. He was given 
the advantages of a thorough education, 
graduating at Yale College in 1804, and 
adopted the calling of a lawyer. A Demo- 



crat politically, at that time, he took a fore- 
most part in the councils of his party and 
was elected to congress in 181 1, supporting 
the tariff of 1816 and the establishing of 
the United States Bank. In 18 17 he be- 
came secretary of war in President Monroe's 
cabinet, and in 1824 was elected vice-president 
of the United States, on the ticket with John 
Quincy Adams, and re-elected in 1 828, on the 
ticket with General Jackson. Shortly after 
this Mr. Calhoun became one of the strongest 
advocates of free trade and the principle of 
sovereignty of the states and was one of 
the originators of the doctrine that "any 
state could nullify unconstitutional laws of 
congress." Meanwhile Calhoun had be- 
come an aspirant for the presidency, and 
the fact that General Jackson advanced the 
interests of his opponent, \'an Buren, led 
to a quarrel, and Calhoun resigned the vice- 
presidency in 1S32 and was elected United 
States senator from South Carolina. It was 
during the same year that a convention was 
held in South Carolina at which the " Nul- 
lification ordinance" was adopted, the 'ob- 
ject of which was to test the constitution- 
ality of the protective tariff measures, and 
to prevent if possible the collection of im- 
port duties in that state which had been 
levied more for the purpose of ' ' protection ' 
than revenue. This ordinance was to go 
into effect in February, 1833, and created a 
great deal of uneasiness throughout the 
country as it was feared there would be a 
clash between the state and federal authori- 
ties. It was in this serious condition oi 
public affairs that Henry Clay came forward 
with the the famous "tariff compromise" 
of 1833, to which measure Calhoun and 
most of his followers gave their support and 
the crisis was averted. In 1843 Mr. Cal- 
houn was appointed secretary of state in 
President Tyler's cabinet, and it was under 



24 



COMPENDIU^f OF BIOGRAPHY. 



his administration that the treaty concern- 
ing the annexation of Texas was negotiated. 
In 1845 he was re-elected to the United 
Stales senate and continued in the senate 
until his death, which occurred in March, 
1 850. He occupied a high rank as a scholar, 
student and orator, and it is conceded that 
he was one of the greatest debaters America 
has produced. The famous debate between 
Calhoun and Webster, in 1S33, is regarded 
as the most noted for ability and eloquence 
in the history of the country. 



BEXJAMIN FRANKLIN BUTLER, one 
of America's most brilliant and pro- 
found lawyers and noted public men, was 
a native of New England, born at Deer- 
field, New Hampshire, November 5, 1818. 
His father. Captain John Butler, was a 
prominent man in his day, commanded a 
company during the war of 1812, and 
served under Jackson at New Orleans. 
Benjamin F. Butler was given an excellent 
education, graduated at Waterville College, 
Maine, studied law, was admitted to the 
bar in 1840, at Lowell, Massachusetts, 
where he commenced the practice of his 
profession and gained a wide reputation for 
his ability at the bar, acquiring an extensive 
practice and a fortune. Early in life he 
began taking an active interest in military 
affairs and served in the state militia through 
all grades from private to brigadier-general. 
In 1853 he was elected to the state legisla- 
ture on the Democratic ticket in Lowell, 
and took a prominent part in the passage of 
legislation in the interests of labor. Dur- 
ing the same year he was a member of the 
constitutional convention, and in 1S59 rep- 
resented his district in the Massachusetts 
senate. When the Civil war broke out 
General Butler took the field and remained 
at the front most of the time during that 



bloody struggle. Part of tne time he had 
charge of Fortress Monroe, and in Febru- 
ary, 1862, took command of troops forming 
part of the expedition against New Orleans, 
and later had charge of the department of 
the Gulf. He was a conspicuous figure dur- 
ing the continuance of the war. After the 
close of hostilities General Butler resumed 
his law practice in Massachusetts and in 
1866 was elected to congress from the Es- 
sex district. In 1882 he was elected gov- 
ernor of Massachusetts, and in 1884 was the 
nominee of the " Greenback" party for 
president of the United States. He con- 
tinued his legal practice, and maintained his 
place as one of the most prominent men in 
New England until the time of his death, 
which occurred January 10, 1893. 



JEFFERSON DAVIS, an officer, states- 
man and legislator of prominence in 
America, gained the greater part of his fame 
from the fact that he was president of the 
southern confederacy. Mr. Davis was born 
in Christian county. Kentucky, June 3, 
1808, and his early education and surround- 
ings were such that his sympathies and in- 
clinations were wholly with the southern 
people. He received a thorough education, 
graduated at West Point in 1828. and for a 
number of years served in the army at west- 
ern posts and in frontier service, first as 
lieutenant and later as adjutant. In 1835 
he resigned and became a cotton planter in 
Warren county, Mississippi, where he took 
an active interest in public affairs and be- 
came a conspicuous figure in politics. In 
1844 he was a presidential elector from 
Mississippi and during the two following 
years served as congressman from his d'S- 
trict. He then became colonel ot a iviissis- 
sippi regiment in the war with Mexico ano 
participated in some of the most sev^-^re l-.^l- 



COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHr. 



25 



ties, being seriously wounded at Buena 
Vista. Upon his return to private life he 
again took a prominent part in political af- 
fairs and represented his state in the United 
States senate from 1S47 to 1 851. He then 
entered President Pierce's cabinet as secre- 
tary of war, after which he again entered 
the United States senate, remaining until 
the outbreak of the Civil war. He then be- 
came president of the southern confederacy 
and served as such until captured in May, 
1865, at Irwinville, Georgia. He was held 
as prisoner of war at Fortress Monroe, until 
1867, when he was released on bail and 
finally set free in 1868. His death occurred 
December 6, 1889. 

Jefferson Davis was a man of e.xcellent 
abilities and was recognized as one of the 
best organizers of his day. He was a 
forceful and fluent speaker and a ready 
writer. He wrote and published the " Rise 
and Fall of the Southern Confederacy," a 
work which is considered as authority by 
the southern people. 



JOHN ADAMS, the Second president of 
the United States, and one of the most 
conspicuous figures in the early struggles of 
his country for independence, was born in 
the present town of Quincy, then a portion 
of Braintree, Massachusetts, October 30, 
1735. He received a thorough education, 
graduating at Harvard College in 1755, 
studied law and was admitted to the bar in 
1758. He was well adapted for this profes- 
sion and after opening an office in his native 
town rapidly grew in prominence and public 
favor and soon was regarded as one of the 
leading lawyers of the country. His atten- 
tion was called to political affairs by the 
passage of the Stamp Act, in 1765, and he 
drew up a set of resolutions on the subject 
which were very popular. In 1768 he re- 



moved to Boston and became one of the 
most courageous and prominent advocates 
of the popular cause and was chosen a 
member of the Colonial legislature from 
Boston. He was one of the delegates that 
represented Massachusetts in the first Con- 
tinental congress, which met in September, 
1774. In a letter written at this crisis he 
uttered the famous words: "The die is now 
cast; I have passed the Rubicon. Sink or 
swim, live or die, survive or perish with my 
country, is my unalterable determination." 
He was a prominent figure in congress and 
advocated the movement for independence 
when a majority of the members were in- 
clined to temporize and to petition the King. 
In May, 1776, he presented a resolution in 
congress that the colonies should assume 
the duty of self-government, which was 
passed. In June, of the same year, a reso- 
lution that the United States "are, and of 
right ought to be, free and independent," 
was moved by Richard H. Lee, seconded by 
Mr. Adams and adopted by a small majority. 
Mr. Adams was a member of the committee 
of five appointed June 1 1 to prepare a 
declaration of independence, in support of 
which he made an eloquent speech. He was 
chairman of the Board of War in 1776 and 
in 1778 was sent as commissioner to France, 
but returned the following year. In 1780 
he went to Europe, having been appointed 
as minister to negotiate a treaty of peace 
and commerce with Great Britain. Con- 
jointly with Franklin and Jay he negotiated 
a treaty in 1782. He was employed as a 
minister to the Court of St. James from 
1785 to 178S, and during that period wrote 
his famous " Defence of the American Con- 
stitutions." In 1789 he became vice-presi- 
dent of the United States and was re-elected 
in 1792. 

In 1796 Mr. Adams was .chosen presi- 



26 



COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHT. 



dent of the United States, his competitor 
being Thomas Jefferson, who became vice- 
president. In 1800 he was the Federal 
candidate for president, but he was not 
cordially supported by Gen. Hamilton, the 
favorite leader of his party, and was de- 
feated by Thomas Jefferson. 

Mr. Adams then retired from public life 
to his large estate at Quincy, Mass. , where 
he died July 4, 1826, on the same day that 
witnessed the death of Thomas Jefferson. 
Though his physical frame began to give way 
many years before his death, his mental 
powers retained their strength and. vigor to 
the last. In his ninetieth year he was glad- 
dened by .the elevation of his son, John 
Quincy Adams, to the presidential office. 



HENRY WARD BEECHER, one of the 
most celebrated American preachers 
and authors, was born at Litchfield, Connec- 
ticut, June 24, 18 1 3. His father was Dr. Ly- 
man Beecher, also an eminent divine. At 
an early age Henry Ward Beecher had a 
strong predilection for a sea-faring life, and 
it was practically decided that he would fol- 
low this inclination, but about this time, in 
consequence of deep religious impressions 
which he experienced during a revival, he 
renounced his former intention and decided 
to enter the ministry. After having grad- 
uated at Amherst College, in 1834, he stud- 
ied theology at Lane Seminary under the 
tuition of his father, who was then president 
of that institution. In 1847 he became pas- 
tor of the Plymouth Congregational church 
in Brooklyn, where his oratorical ability and 
original eloquence attracted one of the larg- 
est congregations in the country. He con- 
tinued to served this church until the time 
of his death, March 8, 1887. Mr. Beecher 
aisc ♦bund time for a great amount of liter- 
ary wuik- For a number of years he was 



editor of the "Independent" and also the 
"Christian Union." He also produced many 
works which are widely known. Among his 
principal productions are ' 'Lectures to Young 
Men," " Star Papers, " "Life of Christ," 
"Life Thoughts," "Royal Truths" (a 
novel), "Norwood," " Evolution and Rev- 
olution," and " Sermons on Evolution and 
Religion. " Mr. Beecher was also long a 
prominent advocate of anti-slavery princi- 
ples and temperance reform, and, at a later 
period, of the rights of women. 



JOHN A. LOGAN, the illustrious states- 
man and general, was born in Jackson 
county, Illinois, February 9, 1824. In his 
boyhood days he received but a limited edu- 
cation in the schools of his native county. 
On the breaking out of the war with Mexico 
he enlisted in the First Illinois Volunteers 
and became its quartermaster. At the close 
of hostilities he returned home and was 
elected clerk of the courts of Jackson county 
in 1849. Determining to supplement his 
education Logan entered the Louisville Uni- 
versity, from which he graduated in 1852 
and taking up the study of law was admitted 
to the bar. He attained popularity and suc- 
cess in his chosen profession and was elected 
to the legislature in 1852, 1853, 1856 and 
1S57. He was prosecuting attorney from 
1853 to 1857. He was elected to congress 
in 1858 to fill a vacancy and again in i860. 
At the outbreak of the Rebellion, Logan re- 
signed his office and entered the army, and 
in September, 1861, was appointed colonel 
of the Thirty-first Illinois Infantry, which he 
led in the battles of Belmont and Fort Don- 
elson. In the latter engagement he was 
wounded. In March, 1862, he was pro- 
moted to be brigadier-general and in the 
following month participated in the battles 
o' f^ittsburg Landing. In November, 1S62, 



COMPENDIUM GF BIO GRAF Hi: 



29 



for gallant conduct he was made major-gen- 
eral. Throughout the Vicksburg campaign 
he was in command of a division of the Sev- 
enteenth Corps and was distinguished at 
Port Gibson, Champion Kills and in the 
siege and capture cf Vicksburg. In October, 
1S63, he was placed in command of the 
Fifteenth Corps, which he led with great 
credit. During the terrible conflict before 
Atlanta, July 22, 1864, on the death of 
General McPherson, Logan, assuming com- 
mand of the Army of the Tennessee, led it 
on to victory, saving the day by his energy 
and ability. He was shortly after succeeded 
by General O. O. Howard and returned to 
the command of his corps. He remained 
in command until the presidential election, 
when, feeling that his influence was needed 
at home he returned thither and there re- 
mained until the arrival of Sherman at Sa- 
vannah, when General Logan rejoined his 
command. In May, 1865, he succeeded 
General Howard at the head of the Army of 
the Tennessee. He resigned from the army 
in August, the same year, and in November 
was appointed minister to Mexico, but de- 
clined the honor. He served in the lower 
house of the fortieth and forty-first con- 
gresses, and was elected United States sena- 
tor from his native state in 1870, 1S78 and 
1885. He was nominated for the vice-presi- 
dency in 1884 on the ticicet with Blaine, but 
was defeated. General Logan was the 
author of " The Great Conspiracy, its origin 
and history," published in 1885. He died 
at Washington, December 26, 1886. 



JOHN CHARLES FREMONT, the first 
Republican candidate for president, was 
born in Savannah, Georgia, January 21, 
181 3. He graduated from Charleston Col- 
lege (South Carolina) in 1830, and turned his 
attention to civil engineering. He was shortly 



afterward employed in the department of 
government surveys on the Mississippi, and 
constructing maps of that region. He was 
made lieutenant of engineers, and laid be- 
fore the war department a plan for pene- 
trating the Rocky Mountain regions, which 
was accepted, and in 1S42 he set out upon 
his first famous exploring e.xpedition and e,x- 
plored the South Pass. He also planned an 
expedition to Oregon by a new route further 
south, but afterward joined his expedition 
with that of Wilkes in the region of the 
Great Salt Lake. He made a later expedi- 
tion which penetrated the Sierra Nevadas, 
and the San Joaquin and Sacramento river 
valleys, making maps of all regions explored. 
In 1845 he conducted the great expedi- 
tion which resulted in the acquisition of 
California, which it was believed the Mexi- 
can government was about to dispose of to 
England, Learning that the Mexican gov- 
ernor was preparing to attack ttie American 
settlements in his dominion, Fremont deter- 
mined to forestall him. The settlers rallied 
to his camp, and in June, 1846, he defeated 
the Mexican forces at Sonoma Pass, and a 
rnonth later completely routed the governor 
and his entire army. The Americans at 
once declared their independence of Mexico, 
and Fremont was elected governor of Cali- 
fornia. By this time Commodore Stockton 
had reached the coast with instructions from 
Washington to conquer California. Fre- 
mont at once joined him in that effort, which 
resulted in the annexation of California with 
its untold mineral wealth. Later Fremont 
became involved in a difficulty with fellow 
officers which resulted in a court martial, 
and the surrender of his commission. He 
declined to accept reinstatement. He af- 
terward laid out a great road from the Mis- 
sissippi river to San Francisco, and became 
the first United States senator from Califor- 



80 



COMPEXUIUM Ol^ BIOGRAPHT 



nia, in 1S49. In 1S56 he was nominated 
by the new Republican party as its first can- 
didate for president against Buchanan, and 
received 114 electoral votes, out of 296. 

In 1 86 1 he was made major-general and 
placed in charge of the western department. 
He planned the reclaiming of the entire 
Mississippi valley, and gathered an army of 
thirty thousand men, with plenty of artil- 
lery, and was ready to move upon the con- 
federate General Price, when he was de- 
prived of his command. He was nominated 
for the presidency at Cincinnati in 1864, but 
withdrew. He was governor of Arizona in 
1878, holding the position four years. He 
was interested in an engineering enterprise 
looking toward a great southern trans-con- 
tinental railroad, and in his later years also 
practiced law in New York. He died July 13, 
1890. 

WENDELL PHILLIPS, the orator and 
abolitionist, and a conspicuous figare 
in American history, was born November 
29, 181 1, at Boston, Massachusetts. He 
received a good education at Harvard 
College, from which he graduated in 1831, 
and then entered the Cambridge Law School . 
After completing his course in that institu- 
tion, in 1S33, he was admitted to the bar, 
in 1834, at Suffolk. He entered the arena 
of life at the time when the forces of lib- 
erty and slavery had already begun their 
struggle that was to culminate in the Civil 
war. William Lloyd Garrison, by his clear- 
headed, courageous declarations of the anti- 
slavery principles, had done much to bring 
about this struggle. Mr. Phillips was not a 
man that could stand aside and see a great 
struggle being carried on in the interest of 
humanity and look passively on. He first 
:ittracted attention as an orator in 1837, at 
a meeting that was called to protest against 



the murder of the Rev. Elijah P. Lovejoy. 
The meeting would have ended in a few 
perfunctory resolutions had not Mr. Phillip? 
by his manly eloquence taken the meeting 
out of the hands of the few that were in- 
clined to temporize and avoid radical utter- 
ances. Having once started out in this ca- 
reer as an abolitionist Phillips never swerved 
from what he deemed his duty, and never 
turned back. He gave up his legal practice 
and launched himself heart and soul in the 
movement for the liberation of the slaves. 
He was an orator of very great ability and 
by his earnest efforts and eloquence he did 
much in arousing public sentiment in behalf 
of the anti-slavery cause — possibly more 
than any one man of his time. After the 
abolition of slavery Mr. Phillips was, if pos- 
sible, even busier tl^an before m the literary 
and lecture field. Besides temperance and 
women's rights, he lectured often and wrote 
much on finance, and the relations of labor 
and capital, and his utterances on whatever 
subject always bore the stamp of having 
emanated from a master mind. Eminent 
Clitics have stated that it might fairly be 
questioned whether there has ever spoken 
in America an orator superior to Phillips. 
The death of this great man occurred Feb- 
ruary 4, 18S4. 



WILLIAM TECUMSEH SHERMAN 
was one of the greatest generals that 
the world has ever produced and won im- 
mortal fame by that strategic and famous 
" march to the sea," in the war of the Re- 
bellion. He was born February 8, 1820, at 
Lancaster, Ohio, and was reared in the 
family of the Hon. Thomas Ewing, as his 
father died when he was but nine years of 
age. He entered West Point in 1836, was 
graduated from the same in 1840, and ap- 
pointed a second lieutenant in the Thiri*. 



COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY. 



81 



Artillery. He passed through the various 
grades of the service and at the outbreak of 
the Civil war was appointed colonel of the 
Thirteenth Regular Infantry. A full history 
of General Sherman's conspicuous services 
would be to repeat a history of the army. 
He commanded a division at Shiloh, and 
was instrumental in the winning of that bat- 
tle, and was also present at the siege of Vicks- 
burg. On July 4, 1863, he was appointed 
brigadier-general of the regular army, and 
shared with Hooker the victory of Mission- 
ary Ridge. He was commander of the De- 
partment of the Tennessee from October 
27th until the appjintment of General 
Grant as lieutenant-general, by whom he 
was appointed to the command of the De- 
partment of the Mississippi, which he as- 
sumed in March, 1864. He at once began 
organizing the army and enlarging his com- 
munications preparator\- to his march upon 
Atlanta, which he started the same time of 
;he beginning of the Richmond campaign by 
Grant. He started on May 6, and was op- 
posed by Johnston, who had fifty thousand 
men, but by consummate generalship, he 
captured Atlanta, on September 2, after 
several months of hard fighting and a severe 
loss of men. General Sherman started on 
his famous march to the sea November 15, 
1864, and by December 10 he was before 
Savannah, which he took on December 23. 
This campaign is a monument to the genius 
of General Sherman as he only lost 567 
men from Atlanta to the sea. After rest- 
ing his army he moved northward and occu- 
pied the following places: Columbia, 
Cheraw, Fayetteville, Ayersboro, Benton- 
ville, Goldsboro, Raleigh, and April 18, he 
accepted the surrender of Johnston's army 
on a basis of agreement that was not re- 
ceived by the Government with favor, but 
finally accorded Johnston the same terms as 



Lee was given by General Grant. He was 
present at the grand review at Washington, 
and after the close of the war was appointed 
to the command of the military division of 
the Mississippi; later was appointed lieu- 
tenant-general, and assigned to the military 
division of the Missouri. When General 
Grant was elected president Sherman became 
general, March 4, 1S69, and succeeded to 
the command of the army. His death oc- 
curred February 14, 1891, at Washington. 



ALEXANDER HAMILTON, one of the 
most prominent of the early American 
statesmen and financiers, was born in Nevis, 
an island of the West Indies, January 11, 
1757, his father being a Scotchman and his 
mother of Huguenot descent. Owing to the 
death of his mother and business reverses 
which came to his father, young Hamilton 
was sent to his mother's relatives in Santa 
Cruz; a few years later was sent to a gram- 
mar school at Elizabethtown, New Jersey, 
and in 1773 entered what is now known as 
Columbia College. Even at that time he 
began taking an active part in public affairs 
and his speeches, pamphlets, and newspaper 
articles on political affairs of the day at- 
tracted considerable attention. In 1776 he 
received a captain's commission and served 
in Washington's army with credit, becoming 
aide-de-camp to Washington with rank of 
lieutenant-colonel. In 1781 he resigned his 
commission because of a rebuke from Gen- 
eral Washington. He next received com- 
mand of a New York battalion and partici- 
pated in the battle of Yorktown. After 
this Hamilton studied law, served several 
terms in congress and was a member of the 
convention at which the Federal Constitu- 
tion was drawn up. His work connected 
with " The Federalist " at about this time 
attracted much attention. Mr. Hamilton 



32 



COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHT 



was chosen as the first secretary of the 
United States treasury and as such was the 
author of the funding system and founder of 
the United States Bank. In 1798 he was 
made inspector-general of the army with the 
rank of major-general and was also for a 
short time commander-in-chief. In 1804 
Aaron Burr, then candidate for governor of 
New York, challenged Alexander Hamilton 
to fight a duel, Burr attributing his defeat 
to Hamilton's opposition, and Hamilton, 
though declaring the code as a relic of bar- 
barism, accepted the challenge. They met 
at Weehawken, New Jersey, July 11, 1804. 
Hamilton declined to fire at his adversary, 
but at Burr's first fire was fatally wounded 
and died July 12, 1804. 



ALEXANDER HAMILTON STEPH- 
ENS, vice-president of the southern 
confederacy, a former United States senator 
and governor of Georgia, ranks among the 
great men of American history. He was born 
February 11, 1S12, near Crawfordsville, 
Georgia. He was a graduate of the Uni- 
versity of Georgia, and admitted to the bar 
in 1834. In 1837 he made his debut in 
political life as a member of the state house 
of representatives, and in 1 841 declined the 
nomination for the same office; but in 1S42 
he was chosen by the same constituency as 
state senator. Mr. Stephens was one of 
the promoters of the Western and Atlantic 
Railroad. In 1843 he was sent by his dis- 
trict to the national house of representatives, 
which office he held for si-xteen consec- 
utive years. He was a member of the 
house during the passing of the Compromise 
Bill, and was one of its ablest and most 
active supporters. The same year (1850) 
Mr. Stephens was a delegate to the state 
convention that framed the celebrated 
" Georgia Platform." and was also a dele- 



gate to the convention that passed the ordi- 
nance of secession, though he bitterly op- 
posed that bill by voice and vote, yet he 
readily acquiesced in their decision after 
it received the votes of the majority of the 
convention. He was chosen vice-president 
of the confederac}' without opposition, and 
in 1865 he was the head of the commis- 
sion sent by the south to the Hampton 
Roads conference. He was arrested after 
the fall of the confederacy and was con- 
fined in Fort Warren as a prisoner of state 
but was released on his own parole. Mr. 
Stephens was elected to the forty-third, 
forty-fourth, forty-fifth, forty-sixth and for- 
ty-seventh congresses, with hardly more than 
nominal opposition. He was one of the 
Jeffersonian school of American politics. 
He wrote a number of works, principal 
among which are: "Constitutional \'iew 
of the War between the States," and a 
" Compendium of the History of the United 
States." He was inaugurated as governor 
of Georgia November 4th, 1882, but died 
March 4, 1883, before the completion of 
his term. 

ROSCOE CONKLING was one of the 
most noted and famous of American 
statesmen. He was among the most fin- 
ished, fluent and eloquent orators that have 
ever graced the halls of the American con- 
gress; ever ready, witty and bitter in de- 
bate he was at once admired and feared by 
his political opponents and revered by his 
followers. True to his friends, loj'al to the 
last degree to those with whom his inter- 
ests were associated, he was unsparing to his 
foes and it is said "never forgot an injury." 
Roscoe Conkling was born at Albany, 
New York, on the 30th of October, 1829, 
being a son of Alfred Conkling. Alfred 
Conkling was also a native of New York, 



COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHT. 



33 



born at East Hampton, October 12, 17S9, 
and became one of the most eminent law- 
yers in the Empire state; published several 
legal works; served a term in congress; aft- 
erward as United States district judge for 
Northern New York, and in 1852 was min- 
ister to Mexico. Alfred Conkling died in 
1874. 

Roscoe Conkling, whose name heac^s 
this article, at an early age took up the 
study of law and soon became successful and 
prominent at the bar. About 1846 he re- 
moved to Utica and in 1858 was elected 
mayor of that city. He was elected repre- 
sentative in congress from this district and 
was re-elected three times. In 1867 he was 
elected United States senator from the state 
of New York and was re-elected in 1873 
and 1879. In May, 1881, he resigned on 
account of differences with the president. 
In March, 1882, he was appointed and con- 
firmed as associate justice of the United 
States supreme court but declined to serve. 
His death occurred April 18, 1888. 



WASHINGTON IRVING, one of the 
most eminent, talented and popu- 
lar of American authors, was born in New 
York City, April 3, 1783. His father was 
William Irving, a merchant and a native of 
Scotland, who had married an English lady 
and emigrated to America some twenty 
years prior to the birth of Washington. 
Two of the older sons, William and Peter, 
were partially occupied with newspaper 
work and literary pursuits, and this fact 
naturally inclined Washington to follow 
their example. Washington Irving was given 
the advantages afforded by the common 
schools until about sixteen years of age 
when he began studying law, but continued 
to acquire his literary training by diligent 
perusal at home of the older English writers. 



When nineteen he made his first literary 
venture by printing in the ' ' Morning Chroni- 
cle," then edited by his brother, Dr. Peter 
Irving, a series of local sketches under the 
noni-dc'-plnjuc oi " Jonathan Oldstyle." In 
1804 he began an extensive trip through 
Europe, returned in 1806, quickly com- 
pleted his legal studies and was admitted to 
the bar, but never practiced the profession. 
In 1807 he began the amusing serial "Sal- 
magundi," which had an immediate suc- 
cess, and not only decided his future 
career but long determined the charac- 
_ ter of his writings. In 1S08, assisted by 
his brother Peter, he wrote ' ' Knickerbock- 
er's History of New York," and in 18 10 an 
excellent biography of Campbell, the poet. 
After this, for some time, Irving's attention 
was occupied by mercantile interests, but 
the commercial house in which he was a 
partner failed in 1817. In 1814 he was 
editor of the Philadelphia " Analectic Maga- 
zine. " About I Si 8 appeared his "Sketch- 
Book," over the nom-de-pliune of ' 'Geoffrey 
Crayon," which laid the foundation of Ir- 
ving's fortune and permanent fame. This 
was soon followed by the legends of 
"Sleepy Hollow," and " Rip Van Winkle," 
which at once took high rank as literary 
productions, and Irving's reputation was 
firmly established in both the old and new 
worlds. After this the path of Irving was 
smooth, and his subsequent writings ap- 
peared with rapidity, including " Brace- 
bridge Hall," "The Tales of a Traveler," 
" History of the Life and Voyages of Chris- 
topher Columbus," "The Conquest of 
Granada," "The Alhambra, " "Tour on 
the Prairies," "Astoria," "Adventures of 
Captain Bonneville," "Wolfert's Roost," 
" Mahomet and his Successors," and "Life 
of Washington," besides other works. 

Washington Irving was never married. 



84 



COMPEXDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY. 



He resided during the closing years of his 
life at Sunnyside (Tarrytown) on the Hud- 
son, where he died November 28, 1859. 



CHARLES SUMNER.— Boldly outlined 
on the pages of our history stands out 
the rugged figure of Charles Sumner, states- 
man, lawyer and writer. A man of unim- 
peachable integrity, indomitable will and 
with the power of tireless toil, he was a fit 
leader in troublous times. First in rank as 
an anti-slavery leader in the halls of con- 
gress, he has stamped his image upon the 
annals of his time. As an orator he took 
front rank and, in wealth of illustration, 
rhetoric and lofty tone his eloquence equals 
anything to be found in history. 

Charles Sumner was born in Boston, 
Massachusetts, January 6, 181 1, and was 
the son of Charles P. and Relief J. Sumner. 
The family had long been prominent in that 
state. Charles was educated at the Boston 
Public Latin School; entered Harvard Col- 
lege in 1826, and graduated therefrom in 
1830. In 1 83 1 he joined the Harvard Lav/ 
School, then under charge of Judge Story, 
and gave himself up to the study of law 
with enthusiasm. His leisure was devoted 
to contributing to the American Jurist. Ad- 
mitted to the bar in 1834 he was appointed 
reporter to the circuit court by Judge Story. 
He published several works about this time, 
and from 1835 to 1837 and again in 1843 
was lecturer in the law school. He had 
planned a lawyer's life, but in 1845 he gave 
his attention to politics, speaking and working 
against the admission of Texas to the Union 
and subsequently against the Mexican war. 
In 1848 he was defeated for congress on the 
Free Soil ticket. His stand on the anti- 
slavery question at that time alienated both 
friends and clients, but he never swerved 
from his convictions. In 185 i he was elected 



to the United States senate and took his 
seat therein December i of that year. From 
this time his life became the history of the 
anti-slavery cause in congress. In August, 
1852, he began his attacks on slavery by a 
masterly argument for the repeal of the 
fugitive slave law. On May 22, 1856, Pres- 
ton Brooks, nephew of Senator Butler, of 
South Carolina, made an attack upon Mr. 
Sumner, at his desk in the senate, striking 
him over the head with a heavy cane. The 
attack was quite serious in its effects and 
kept Mr. Sumner absent from his seat in the 
senate for about four years. In 1S57, 1863 
and 1869 he was re-elected to the office of 
senator, passing some twenty-three years in 
that position, always advocating the rights 
of freedom and equity. He died March 11, 
1874- 

THOMAS JEFFERSON, the third pres- 
ident of the United States, was born 
near Charlottesville, Albemarle county, Vir- 
ginia, April 13, 1743, and was the son of 
Peter and Jane (Randolph) Jefferson. He 
received the elements of a good education, 
and in 1760 entered William and Mary Col- 
lege. After remaining in that institution for 
two years he took up the study of law with 
George Wythe, of Williamsburg, Virginia, 
one of the foremost lawyers of his day, and 
was admitted to practice in 1767. He ob- 
tained a large and profitable practice, which 
he held for eight years. The conflict be- 
tween Great Britain and the Colonies then 
drew him into public life, he having for 
some time given his attention to the study 
of the sources of law, the origin of liberty 
and equal rights. 

Mr. Jefferson was elected to the Virginia 
house of burgesses in 1769, and served in 
that body several years, a firm supporter of 
liberal measures, and, although a slave- 



COMPEXDirM OF BIOGRAPHT. 



35 



holder himself, an opponent of slavery. 
With others, he was a leader among the op- 
position to the king. He took his place as 
a member of the Continental congress June 
2 1, 1775, and after serving on several com- 
mittees was appointed to draught a Declara- 
tion of Independence, which he did, some 
corrections being suggested by Dr. Franklin 
and John Adams. This document was pre- 
sented to congress June 28, 1776, and after 
si.K days' debate was passed and was signed. 
In the following September Mr. Jefferson 
resumed his seat in the Virginia legislature, 
and gave much time to the adapting of laws 
of that state to the new condition of things. 
He drew up the law, the first ever passed by 
a legislature or adopted by a government, 
which secured perfect religious freedom. 
June I, 1779, he succeeded Patrick Henry 
as governor of Virginia, an office which, 
after co-operating with Washington in de- 
fending the country, he resigned two years 
later. One of his own estates was ravaged 
by the British, and his house at Monticello 
was held by Tarleton for several days, and 
Jefferson narrowly escaped capture. After 
the death of his wife, in 1782, he accepted 
the position of plenipotentiary to France, 
which he had declined in 1776. Before 
leaving he served a short time in congress 
at Annapolis, and succeeded in carrying a 
bill for establishing our present decimal sys- 
tem of currency, one of his most useful pub- 
lic services. He remained in an official ca- 
pacity until October, 1789, and was a most 
active and vigilant minister. Besides the 
onerous duties of his office, during this time, 
he published "Notes on \'irginia," sent to 
the United States seeds, shrubs and plants, 
forwarded literary and scientific news and 
gave useful advice to some of the leaders of 
the French Revolution. 

Mr. Jefferson landed in \'irginia Novem- 



ber 18, 1789, having obtained a leave of 
absence from his post, and shortlj' after ac- 
cepted Washington's offer of the portfolio 
of the department of state in his cabinet. 
He entered upon the duties of his office in 
March, 1791, and held it until January i, 
1794, when he tendered his resignation. 
About this time he and Alexander Hamilton 
became decided and aggressive political op- 
ponents, Jefferson being in warm sympathy 
with the people in the French revolution 
and strongly democratic in his feelings, 
while Hamilton took the opposite side. In 
1796 Jefferson was elected vice-president of 
the United States. In 1800 he was elected 
to the presidency and was inaugurated 
March 4, 1801. During his administration, 
which lasted for eight years, he having been 
re-elected in 1804, he waged a successful 
war against the Tripolitan pirates ; purchased 
Louisiana of Napoleon; reduced the public, 
debt, and was the originator of many wise 
measures. Declining a nomination for a 
third term he returned to Monticello, where 
he died July 4, 1826, but a few hours before 
the death of his friend, John Adams. 

Mr. Jefferson was married January i, 
1772, to Mrs. Martha Skelton, a young, 
beautiful, and wealthy widow, who died 
September 6, 17S2, leaving three children, 
three more having died previous to her 
demise. 



CORNELIUS VANDERBILT, known as 
"Commodore" Vanderbilt, was the 
founder of what constitutes the present im- 
mense fortune of the Vanderbilt family. He 
was born May 27, 1794, at Port Richmond, 
Staten Island, Richmond county. New 
York, and we find him at sixteen years run- 
ning a small vessel between his home and 
New York City. The fortifications of Sta- 
ten and Long Islands were just in course of 



36 



COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY. 



construction, and he carried the laborers 
from New York to the fortifications in his 
" perianger, " as it was called, in the day, 
and at night carried supplies to the fort on 
the Hudson. Later he removed to New 
York, where he added to his little fieet. At 
the age of twenty-three he was free from 
debt and was worth $9,000, and in 181 7, 
with a partner he built the first steamboat 
that was run between New York and New 
Brunswick, New Jersey, and became her 
captain at a salary of $1,000 a year. The 
next year he took command of a larger and 
better boat and by 1824 he was in complete 
control of the Gibbon's Line, as it was 
called, which he had brought up to a point 
where it paid $40,000 a year. Cornmodore 
Vanderbilt acquired the ferrj' between New 
York and Elizabethport, New Jersej', on a 
fourteen years' lease and conducted this on 
a paying basis. He severed his connections 
with Gibbons in 1S29 and engaged in 
business alone and for twenty years he was 
the leading steamboat man in the country, 
building and operating steamboats on the 
Hudson River, Long Island Sound, on the 
Delaware River and the route to Boston, 
and he had the monopoly of trade on these 
routes. In 1S50 he determined to broaden 
his field of operation and accordingly built 
the steamship Prometheus and sailed for 
the Isthmus of Darien, where he desired to 
make a personal investigation of the pros- 
pects of the American Atlantic and Pacific 
Ship Canal Company, in which he had pur- 
chased a cor.trolling interest. Commodore 
Vanderbilt planned, as a result of this visit, 
a transit route from Greytown on the At- 
lantic coast to San Juan del Sud on the Pa- 
cific coast, which was a saving of 700 miles 
over the old route. In 1851 he placed three 
steamers on the Atlantic side and four on 
the Pacific side to accommodate the enor- 



mous traffic occasioned by the discovery of 
gold in California. The following year 
three more vessels were added to his fleet 
and a branch line established from New 
Orleans to Greytown. In 1853 the Com- 
modore sold out hisNicarauguaTransit Com- 
pany, which had netted him $1,000,000 
and built the renowned steam yacht, the 
" North Star. " He continued in the ship- 
ping business nine years longer and accu- 
mulated some $10,000,000. In 1861 he 
presented to the government his magnifi- 
cent steamer " Vanderbilt, " which had cost 
him $800,000 and for which he received the 
thanks of congress. In 1844 he became 
interested in the railroad business which he 
followed in later years and became one of 
the greatest railroad magnates of his time. 
He founded the Vanderbilt University at a 
cost of $1,000,000. He died January 4, 
1877, leaving a fortune estimated at over 
$100,000,000 to his children. 



DANIEL BOONE was one of the most 
famous of the many American scouts, 
pioneers and hunters which the early settle- 
ment of the western states brought into 
prominence. Daniel Boone was born Feb- 
ruary II, 1735, in Bucks county, Pennsyl- 
vania, but while yet a young man removed 
to North Carolina, where he was married. 
In 1769, with five companions, he pene- 
trated into the forests and wilds of Kentucky 
— then uninhabited by white men. He had 
frequent conflicts with the Indians and was 
captured by them but escaped and continued 
to hunt in and explore that region for over 
a year, when, in 1 771, he returned to his 
home. In the summer of 1773, he removed 
with his own and five other families into 
what was then the wilderness of Kentucky, 
and to defend his colony against the savages, 
he built, in 1775, a fort at Boonesborough, 



COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY. 



37 



on the Kentucky river. This fort was at- 
tacked by the Indians several times in 1777, 
but they were repulsed. The following 
year, however, Boone was surprised and 
captured by them. They took him to De- 
troit and treated him with leniency, but he 
soon escaped and returned to his fort which 
he defended with success against four hun- 
dred and fifty Indians in August, 1778. His 
son, Enoch Boone, was the first white male 
child born in the state of Kentucky. In 
1795 Daniel Boone removed with his family 
to Missouri, locating about forty-five miles 
west of the present site of St. Louis, where 
he found fresh fields for his favorite pursuits 
— adventure, hunting, and pioneer life. His 
death occurred September 20, 1820. 



HENRY WADSWORTH LONGFEL- 
LOW, said to have been America's 
greatest "poet of the people," was born at 
Portland, Maine, February 27, 1807. He 
entered Bowdoin College at the age of four- 
teen, and graduated in 1825. During his 
college days he distinguished himself in mod- 
ern languages, and wrote several short 
poems, one of the best known of which was 
the " Hymn of the Moravian Nuns. " After 
his graduation he entered the law office of 
his father, but the following year was offered 
the professorship of modern languages at 
Bowdoin, with the privilege of three years 
study in Europe to perfect himself in French, 
Spanish, Italian and German. After the 
three years were passed he returned to the 
United States and entered upon his profes- 
sorship in 1S29. His first volume was a 
small essay on the "Moral and Devotional 
Poetry of Spain" in 1833. In 1835 he pub- 
lished some prose sketches of travel under 
i'lie title of " Outre Mer, a Pilgrimage be- 
yond the Sea." In 1835 he was elected to 
the chair of modern languages and literature' 



at Harvard University and spent a year in 
Denmark, Sweden and Switzerland, culti- 
vating a knowledge of early Scandinavian 
literature and entered upon his professor- 
ship in 1836. Mr. Longfellow published in 
1S39 " Hyperion, a Romance," and "Voices 
of the Night, " and his first volume of original 
verse comprising the selected poems of 
twenty years work, procured him immediate 
recognition as a poet. " Ballads and other 
poems" appeared in 1842, the "Spanish 
Student " a drama in three acts, in 1S43, 
"The Belfry of Bruges " in 1846, "Evan- 
geline, a Tale of Acadia," in 1847, which 
was considered his master piece. In 1S41; 
he published a large volume of the "Poets 
and Poetry of Europe," 1849 " Kavanagh, 
a Tale," ''The Seaside and Fireside" in 
1850, "The Golden Legend " in 185 1, "The 
Song of Hiawatha " in 1S55, "The Court- 
ship of Miles Standish " in 1858, " Tales of 
a Wayside Inn " in 1S63; " Flower de Luce' 
in 1866;" "New England Tragedies" in 
1869; "The Divine Tragedy" in 1871; 
"Three Books of Song" in 1872; "The 
Hanging of the Crane" in 1874. He also 
published a masterly translation of Dante 
in 1867-70 and the " Morituri Salutamus," 
a poem read at the fiftieth anniversary of 
his class at Bowdoin College. Prof. Long- 
fellow resigned his chair at Harvard Univer- 
sity in 1854, but continued to reside at Cam- 
bridge. Some of his poetical works have 
been translated into many languages, and 
their popularity rivals that of the best mod- 
ern English poetry. He died March 24, 
1882, but has left an imperishable fame as 
one of the foremost of American poets. 



PETER COOPER was in three partic- 
ulars — as a capitalist and manufacturer, 
as an inventor, and as a philanthropist — 
connected intimately with some of the most 



38 



COMPEXDIi'M OF BIOGRAPHi: 



imoortant and useful accessions to the in- 
dustrial arts of America, its progress in in- 
vention and the promotion of educational 
and benevolent institutions intended for the 
benefit of people at large. He was born 
in New York city, February I2, 1791. His 
1 life was one of labor and struggle, as it was 
with most of America's successful men. In 
early boyhood he commenced to help his 
Tather as a manufacturer of hats. He at- 
tended school only for half of each day for 
a single year, and beyond this his acquisi- 
tions were all his own. When seventeen 
years old he was placed with John Wood- 
ward to learn the trade of coach-making and 
served his apprenticeship so satisfactorily 
that his master oPtred to set him up in busi- 
ness, but this he declined because of the 
debt and obligation it would involve. 

The foundation of Mr. Cooper's fortune 
was laid in the invention of an improvement 
in machines for shearing cloth. This was 
largely called into use during the war of 
18 12 with England when all importations 
of cloth from that countrj- were stopped. 
The machines lost their value, however, on 
the declaration of peace. Mr. Cooper then 
turned his shop into the manufacture of 
cabinet ware. He afterwards went into the 
grocery business in New York and finally he 
engaged in the manufacture of glue and isin- 
glass which he carried on for more than 
fifty years. In 1830 he erected iron works 
in Canton, near Baltimore. Subsequently 
he erected a rolling and a wire mill in the 
city of New York, in which he first success- 
fully applied anthracite to the puddling of 
iron. In these works, he was the first to 
roll wrought-iron beams for fire-proof build- 
ings. These works grew to be verj' exten- 
sive, inciudinsr mines, blast furnaces, etc. 
While in Baltimore Mr. Cooper built in 
iS^o. after his own desisrns, the first loco- 



motive engine ever constructed on this con- 
tinent and it was successfully operated on 
the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad. He also 
took a great interest and invested large cap- 
ital in the extension of the electric telegraph, 
also in the laying of the first Atlantic cable; 
besides interesting himself largely in the 
New York state canals. But the most 
cherished object of Mr. Cooper's life was 
the establishment of an institution for the 
instruction of the industrial classes, which 
he carried out on a magnificent scale in New 
York cit3', where the "Cooper Union"' 
ranks among the most important institu- 
tions. 

In May, 1876, the Independent party 
nominated Mr. Cooper for president of the 
United States, and at the election following 
he received nearly 100,000 votes. His 
death occurred April 4, 1883. 



GENERAL ROBERT EDWARD LEE, 
one of the most conspicuous Confeder- 
ate generals during the Civil war, and one 
of the ablest military commanders of mod- 
ern times, was born at Stratford House, 
Westmoreland county, Virginia, January 19, 
1807. In 1825 he entered the West Point 
academy and was graduated second in his 
class in 1829, and attached to the army as 
second lieutenant of engineers. For a 
number of years he was thus engaged in en- 
gineering work, aiding in establishing the 
boundary line between Ohio and Michigan, 
and superintended various river and harbor 
improvements, becoming captain of engi- 
neers in 1838. He first saw fi'eld service in 
the Mexican war, and under General Scott 
performed valuable and efficient service. 
In that brilliant campaign he was conspicu- 
ous for professional ability as well as gallant 
and meritorious conduct, winning in quick 
succession rhe brevets of major, lieutenant- 



COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPlir. 



colonel, and colonel for his part in the bat- 
tles of Cerro Gordo, Contreras, Cherubusco, 
Chapultepec, and in the capture of the city 
Mexico. At the close of that war he re- 
sumed his engineering work in connection 
with defences along the Atlantic coast, and 
from 1852 to 1855 was superintendent of 
the Military Academy, a position which he 
gave up to become lieutenant-colonel of the 
Second Cavalry. For several years there- 
after he served on the Texas border, but 
happening to be near Washington at the 
time of John Brown's raid, October 17 to 
25, 1859, Colonel Lee was placed in com- 
mand of the Federal forces employed in its 
repression. He soon returned to his regi- 
ment in Texas where he remained the 
greater part of i860, and March 16, 1861, 
became colonel of his regisnent by regular 
promotion. Three weeks later, April 25, he 
resigned upon the secession of Virginia, 
went at once to Richmond and tendered his 
services to the governor of that state, being 
by acclamation appointed commander-in- 
chief of its military and naval forces, with 
the rank of major-general. 

He at once set to work to organize and 
develop the defensive resources of his state 
and within a month directed the occupation 
in force of Manassas Junction. Meanwhile 
Virginia having entered the confederacy and 
Richmond become the capitol, Lee became 
one of the foremost of its militarj' officers 
and was closely connected with Jefferson 
Davis in planning the moves of that tragic 
time. Lee participated in many of the 
hardest fought battles of the war among 
which were Fair Oaks, White Lake Swamps, 
Cold Harbor, and the Chickahominy, Ma- 
nassas, Cedar Run, Antietam, Fredericks- 
burg, Chancellorsville, Malvern Hill, Get- 
tysburg, the battles of the Wilderness cam- 
paign, all the campaigns about Richmond, 



Petersburg, Five Forks, and others. Loe's 
surrender at Appomatox brought the war to 
a close. It is said of General Lee that but 
few commanders in history have been so 
quick to detect the purposes of an opponent 
or so quick to act upon it. Never surpassed, 
if ever equaled, in the art of winning the 
passionate, personal love and admiration of 
his troops, he acquired and held an influ- 
ence over his army to the very last, founded 
upon a supreme trust in his judgment, pre- 
science and skill, coupled with his cool, 
stable, equable courage. A great writer has 
said of him: " .\s regards the proper meas- 
ure of General Lee's rank among the sol- 
diers of history, seeing what he wrought 
with such resources as he had, under all the 
disadvantages that ever attended his oper- 
ations, it is impossible to measure what he 
might have achieved in campaigns and bat- 
tles with resources at his own disposition 
equal to those against which he invariably 
contended." 

Left at the close of the war without es- 
tate or profession, he accepted the presi- 
dency of Washington College at Lexington, 
Virginia, where he died October 12, 1870. 



JOHN JAY, first chief-justice of the 
United States, was born in New York, 
December 12, 1745. He took up the study 
of law, graduated from King's College 
(Columbia College), and was admitted to 
the bar in 1768. He was chosen a member 
of the committee of New York citizens to 
protest against the enforcement by the 
British government of the Boston Port Bill, 
was elected to the Continental congress 
which met in 1774, and was author of the 
addresses to the people of Great Britian and 
of Canada adopted by that and the suc- 
ceeding congress. He was chosen to the 
provincial assembly of his own state, and 



to 



COMPEXDIUM OF BJOGRAPHr 



resigned from the Continental congress to 
serve in that body, wrote most of its public 
papers, including the constitution of the new 
state, and was then made chief-justice. He 
was again chosen as a member of the Con- 
tinental congress in 1778, and became presi- 
dent of that body. He was sent to Spain 
as minister in 1780, and his services there 
resulted in substantial and moral aid for the 
struggling colonists. Jay, Franklin, and 
Adams negotiated the treaty of peace with 
Great Britain in 1782, and Jay was ap- 
pointed secretary of foreign affairs in 1784, 
and held the position until the adoption of 
the Federal constitution. During this time 
he had contributed strong articles to the 
"Federalist" in favor of the adoption of 
the constitution, and was largely instru- 
mental in securing the ratification of that 
instrument by his state. He was appointed 
by \\'ashington as first chief-justice of the 
United States in 1789. In this high capac- 
ity the great interstate and international 
questions that arose for immediate settle- 
ment came before him for treatment. 

In 1794, at a time when the people in 
gratitude for the aid that France had ex- 
tended to us, were clamoring for the privilege 
of going to the aid of that nation in her 
struggle with Great Britain and her own op- 
pressors, John Jay was sent to England as 
special envoy to negotiate a treaty with 
that power. The instrument known as 
"Jay's Treaty " was the result, and while 
in many of its features it favored our nation, 
yet the neutrality clause in it so angered the 
masses that it was denounced throughout 
the entire country, and John Jay was burned 
in effigy in the city of New York. The 
treaty was finally ratified by Washington, 
and approved, in August, 1795. Having 
been elected governor of his state for three 
consecutive terms, he then retired from 



active life, declining an appointment as 
chief-justice of the supreme court, made by 
John Adams and confirmed by the senate. 
He died in New York in 1S29. 



PHILLIP HENRY SHERIDAN was 
one of the greatest American cavalry 
generals. He was born March 6, 1S31, at 
Somerset, Perry county, Ohio, and was ap- 
pointed to the United States Military Acad- 
emy at West Point, from which he graduat- 
ed and was assigned to the First Infantry as 
brevet second lieutenant July i, 1S53. 
After serving in Texas, on the Pacific coast, 
in Washington and Oregon territories until 
the fall of 1 86 1, he was recalled to the 
states and assigned to the army of south- 
west Missouri as chief quartermaster from 
the duties of which he was soon relieved. 
After the battle of Pea Ridge, he was quar- 
termaster in the Corinth campaign, and on 
May 25 he was appointed colonel of the 
Second Michigan Cavalry. On July i, in 
command of a cavalrj' brigade, he defeated 
a superior force of the enemy and was com- 
missioned brigadier-general of volunteers. 
General Sheridan was then transferred to 
the army of the Ohio, and commanded a 
division in the battle of Perrysville and also 
did good service at the battle of Murfrees- 
boro, where he was commissioned major- 
general of volunteers. He fought with 
great gallantry at Chickamauga, after which 
Rosecrans was succeeded by General Grant, 
under whom Sheridan fought the battle of 
Chattanooga and won additional renown. 
Upon the promotion of Grant to lieutenant- 
general, he applied for the transfer of Gen- 
eral Sheridan to the east, and appointed 
him chief of cavalry in the army of the 
Potomac. During the campaign of 1864 
the cavalry covered the front and flanks ol 
the infai-.trv until Mav 8, when it was wii;-. 



COMPEXBILM OF- BIOGRAPHY. 



drawn and General Sheridan started on a 
raid against the Confederate lines of com- 
munication with Richmond and on May 25 
he rejoined the arm}', having destroyed con- 
siderable of the confederate stores and de- 
feated their cavalry under General Stuart at 
Yellow Tavern. The outer line of defences 
around Richmond were taken, but the sec- 
ond line was too strong to be taken by as- 
sault, and accordingly Sheridan crossed the 
Chickahominy at Meadow Bridge, reaching 
James River May 14, and thence by White 
House and Hanover Court House back to 
the army. The cavalry occupied Cold 
Harbor May 31, which they held until the 
arrival of the infantry. On General Sheri- 
dan's next raid he routed Wade Hampton's 
cavalry, and August 7 was assigned to the 
command of the Middle Military division, 
and during the campaign of the Shenan- 
doah Valley he performed the unheard of 
feat of " destroying an entire army." He 
was appointed brigadier-general of the reg- 
ular army and for his victory at Cedar Creek 
he was promoted to the rank of major-gen- 
eral. General Sheridan started out Febru- 
ary 27, 1865, with ten thousand cavalry 
and destroyed the Virginia Central Railroad 
and the James River Canal and joined the 
army again at Petersburg March 27. He 
commanded at the battle of Five Forks, the 
decisive victory which compelled Lee to 
evacuate Petersburg. On April 9, Lee tried 
to break through Sheridan's dismounted 
command but when the General drew aside 
his cavalry and disclosed the deep lines of 
infantry the attempt was abandoned. Gen- 
eral Sheridan mounted his men and was about 
to charge when a white flag was flown at the 
head of Lee's column which betokened the 
surrender of the army. After the war Gen- 
eral Sheridan had command of the arm}' of 
the southwest, of tne truif and the depart- 



ment of Missouri until he was appointed 
lieutenant-general and assigned to the di- 
vision of Missouri with headquarters at Chi- 
cago, and assumed supreme command of 
the army November i, 1SS3, which post he 
held until his death, August 5, 1888. 



PHINEAS T. BARNUM, the greatest 
showman the world has ever seen, was 
born at Danbury, Connecticut, July 5, 18 10. 
At the age of eighteen years he began busi- 
ness on his own account. He opened a re- 
tail fruit and confectionery house, including 
a barrel of ale, in one part of an old car- 
riage house. He spent fifty dollars in fitting 
up the store and the stock cost him seventy 
dollars. Three years later he put in a full 
stock, such as is generally carried in a 
country store, and the same year he started 
a Democratic newspaper, known as the 
"Herald of Freedom." He soon found 
himself in jail under a sixty days' sentence 
for libel. During the winter of 1834-5 he 
went to New York and began soliciting busi- 
ness for several Chatham street houses. In 

1835 he embarked in the show business at 
Niblo's Garden, having purchased the cele- 
brated " Joice Heth" for one thousand dol- 
lars. He afterward engaged the celebrated 
athlete, Sig. Vivalia, and Barnum made his 
" first appearance on any stage," acting as a 
"super" to Sig. \'ivalia on his opening 
night. He became ticket seller, secretary 
and treasurer of Aaron Turner's circus in 

1836 and traveled with it about the country. 
His next venture was the purchase of a 
steamboat on the Mississippi, and engaged 
a theatrical company to show in the princi- 
pal towns along that river. In 1840 he 
opened Vaux Hall Garden, New York, with 
variety performances, and introduced the 
celebrated jig dancer, John Diamond, to the 
public. The next year he quit the show 



42 



COMPEXDIL'M OF niOGr.APiir 



business and settled down in New York as 
agent of Sear's Pictorial Illustration of the 
Bible, but a few months later again leased 
Vaux Hall. In September of the same year 
he again left the business, and became 
"puff" writer for the Bowery Amphitheater. 
In December he bought the Scudder Museum, 
and a year later introduced the celebrated 
Tom Thumb to the world, taking him to 
England in 1844, and remaining there three 
years. He then returned to New York, and 
in 1849, through James Hall \\'ilson, he en- 
gaged the "Swedish Nightingale," Jenny 
Lind, to come to this country and make a 
tour under his management. He also had 
sent the Swiss Bell Ringers to America in 
1844. He became owner of the Baltimore 
Museum and the Lyceum and Museum at 
Philadelphia. In 1850 he brought a dozen 
elephants from Ceylon to make a tour of this 
country, and in 1851 sent the " Bateman 
Children" to London. During 185 1 and 
1852 he traveled as a temperance lecturer, 
and became president of a bank at Pequon- 
nock, Connecticut. In 1852 he started a 
weekly pictorial paper known as the " Illus- 
trated News." In 1865 his Museum was 
destroyed by fire, and he immediately leased 
the Winter Garden Theatre, where he played 
his company until he opened his own 
Museum. This was destroyed by fire in 
1868, and he then purchased an interest in 
the George Wood Museum. 

After dipping into politics to some ex- 
tent, he began his career as a really great 
showman in 1871. Three years later he 
erected an immense circular building in New 
York, in which he produced his panoramas. 
He has frequently appeared as a lecturer, 
some times on temperance, and some times 
on other topics, among which were ' ' Hum- 
bugs of the World," "Struggles and 
Triumphs," etc. He was owner of the im- j 



mense menagerie and circus known as the 
"Greatest Show on Earth," and his fame 
extended throughout Europe and America. 
He died in 1891. 



JAMES .MADISON, the fourth president 
of the United States, 1809-17, was 
born at Port Conway, Prince George coun- 
ty, \'irginia, March 16, 1751. He was the 
son of a wealthy planter, who lived on a fine 
estate called " Montpelier," which was but 
twenty-five miles from Monticello, the home 
of Thomas Jefferson. Mr. Madison was the 
eldest of a family of seven children, all of 
whom attained maturity. He received his 
early education at home under a private 
tutor, and consecrated himself with unusual 
vigor to study. At a very early age he was 
a proficient scholar in Latin, Greek, French 
and Spanish, and in 1769 he entered Prince- 
ton College, New Jersey. He graduated in 
1 77 1, but remained for several months aftei 
his graduation to pursue a course of study 
under the guidance of Dr. Witherspoon. 
He permanently injured his health at this 
time and returned to Virginia in 1772, and 
for two years he was immersed in the study 
of law, and at the same time made extend- 
ed researches in theology, general literature, 
and philosophical studies. He then directed 
his full attention to the impending struggle 
of the colonies for independence, and also 
took a prominent part in the religious con- 
troversy at that time regarding so called 
persecution of other religious denominations 
by the Church of England. Mr. Madison 
was elected to the Virginia assembly in 1776 
and in November, 1777, he was chosen 
a member of the council of state. He took 
his seat in the continental congress in 
March, 17S0. He was made chairman of 
the committee on foreign relations, and 
drafted an able memoranda for the use of 



COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY 



43 



the American ministers to the French and 
Spanish governments, that estabHshed the 
claims of the repubhc to the territories be- 
tween the Alleghany Mountains and the 
Mississippi River. He acted as chairman of 
the waj'S and means committee in 1783 and 
as a member of the Virginia legislature in 
1784-86 he rendered important services to 
the state. Mr. Madison represented Vir- 
giana in the national constitutional conven- 
tion at Philadelphia in 1787, and was one of 
the chief framers of the constitution. He 
was a member of the first four congresses, 
1789-97, and gradually became identified 
with the anti-federalist or republican party 
of which he eventually became the leader. 
He remained in private life during the ad- 
ministration of John Adams, and was secre- 
tary of state under President Jefferson. Mr. 
Madison administered the affairs of that 
post with such great ability that he was the 
natural successor of the chief magistrate 
and was chosen president by an electoral 
vote of 122 to 53. He was inaugurated 
March 4, 1809, at that critical period incur 
history when the feelings of the people were 
embittered with those of England, and his 
first term was passed in diplomatic quarrels, 
which finally resulted in the declaration of 
war, June 18, 1S12. In the autumn of that 
year President Madison was re-elected by a 
vote of 128 to 89, and conducted the war 
for three years with varying success and 
defeat in Canada, by glorious victories at 
sea, and by the battle of New Orleans that 
was fought after the treaty of peace had 
been signed at Ghent, December 24, 1814. 
During this war the national capitol at 
Washington was burned, and many valuable 
papers were destroyed, but the declaration 
of independence was saved to the country 
by the bravery and courage of Mr. Madi- 
son's illustrious wife. A commercial treaty 



was negotiated with Great Britain in 181 5, 
and in April, 18 16, a national bank was in- 
corporated by congress. Mr. Madison was 
succeeded, March 4, 1817, by James Monroe, 
and retired into private life on his estate at 
Montpelier, where he died June 28, 1836. 



FREDERICK DOUGLASS, a noted 
American character, was a protege of 
the great abolitionist, William Lloyd Garri- 
son, by whom he was aided in gaining his 
education. Mr. Douglass was born in Tuck- 
ahoe county, Maryland, in February, 1817, 
his mother being a negro woman and his 
father a white man. He was born in slav- 
ery and belonged to a man by the name of 
Lloyd, under which name he went until he 
ran away from his master and changed it to 
Douglass. At the age of ten years he was 
sent to Baltimore where he learned to read 
and write, and later his owner allowed him 
to hire out his own time for three dollars a 
week in a shipyard. In September, 1838, 
he fled from Baltimore and made his way to 
New York, and from thence went to New 
Bedford, Massachusetts. Here he was mar- 
ried and supported him.self and family by 
working at the wharves and in various work- 
shops. In the summer of 1841 he attended 
an anti-slavery convention at Nantucket, 
and made a speech which was so well re- 
ceived that he was offered the agency pf the 
Massachusetts Anti-slavery Society. In this 
capacity he traveled through the New En- 
gland states, and about the same time he 
published his first book called "Narrative 
of my E.xperience in Slavery." Mr. Doug- 
lass went to England in 1845 and lectured 
on slavery to large and enthusiastic audi- 
ences in all the large towns of the country, 
and his friends made up a purse of seven 
hundred and fifty dollars and purchased his 
freedom in due form of law. 



44 



COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY. 



Mr. Douglass applied himself to the de- 
livery of lyceutn lectures after the abolition 
of slavery, and in 1870 he became the editor 
of the " New National Era " in Washington. 
In 1871 he was appointed assistant secretary 
of the commission to San Domingo and on 
his return he was appointed one of the ter- 
ritorial council for the District of Colorado 
by President Grant. He was elected presi- 
dential elector-at-large for the state of New 
York and was appointed to carrj' the elect- 
oral vote to Washington. He was also 
United States marshal for the District of 
Columbia in 1876, and later was recorder 
of deeds for the same, from which position 
he was removed by President Cleveland in 
1 886. In the fall of that year he visited 
England to inform the friends that he had 
made while there, of" tiie progress of the 
colored race in America, and on his return 
he was appointed minister to Hayti, b_v 
President Harrison in 1889. His career as 
a benefactor of his race was closed by his 
death in February, 1895, near Washington. 



WILLIAM CULLEN BRYANT.— The 
ear for rhythm and the talent for 
graceful expression are the gifts of nature, 
and they were plentifully endowed on the 
above named poet. The principal charac- 
teristic of his poetry is the thoughtfulness 
and intellectual process by which his ideas 
ripened in his mind, as all his poems are 
bright, clear and sweet. Mr. Bryant was 
born November 3, 1794, at Cummington, 
Hampshire county, Massachusetts, and was 
educated at Williams College, from which 
he graduated, having entered it in 18 10. 
He took up the study of law, and in 18 15 
was admitted to the bar, but after practicing 
successfully for ten years at Plainfield and 
Great Barrington, he removed to New York 
in 1825. The following year he became 



the editor of the "Evening Post," which 
he edited until his death, and under his di- 
rection this paper maintained, through a 
long series of years, a high standing by the 
boldness of its protests, against slavery be- 
fore the war, by its vigorous support of the 
government during the war, and by the 
fidelity and ability of its advocacy of the 
Democratic freedom in trade. Mr. Br\'- 
ant visited Europe in 1834, 1S45, 1849 and 
1857, and presented to the literary world 
the fruit of his travels in the series of "Let- 
ters of a Traveler," and "Letters from 
Spain and Other Countries." In the world 
of literature he is known chiefly as a poet, 
and here Mr. Bryant's name is illustrious, 
both at home and abroad. He contributed 
verses to the "Country Gazette " before he 
was ten years of age, and at the age of nine- 
teen he wrote " Thanatopsis, " the most im- 
pressive and widely known of his poems. 
The later outgrowth of his genius was his 
translation of Homer's "Iliad" in 1870 
and the "Odyssey" in 1871. He also 
made several speeches and addresses which 
have been collected in a comprehensive vol- 
ume called " Orations and Addresses." He 
was honored in many wa\s by his fellow 
citizens, who delighted to pay tributes of 
respect to his literary eminence, the breadth 
of his public spirit, the faithfulness of his 
service, and the worth of his private char- 
acter. Mr. Bryant died in New York City 
June 12, 1S78. 



WILLIAM HENRY SEWARD, the 
secretarj- of state during one of the 
most critical times in the history of our 
country, and the right hand man of Presi- 
dent Lincoln, ranks among the greatest 
statesmen America has produced. Mr. 
Seward was born May 16, iSoi, at Florida, 
Orange county, New York, and with such 



COMPEXDIL'M OF BIOGRAPHY 



47 



facilities as the place afforded he fitted him- 
self for a college course. He attended 
Union College at Schenectady, New York, 
at the age of fifteen, and took his degree in 
the regular course, with signs of promise in 
1820, after which he diligently addressed 
himself to the study of law under competent 
instructors, and started in the practice of 
his profession in 1823. 

Mr. Seward entered the political arena 
and in 1828 we find him presiding over a 
convention in New York, its purpose being 
the nomination of John Quincy Adams for a 
second term. He was married in 1824 and 
in 1S30 was elected to the state senate. 
From 1838 to 1842 he was governor of the 
state of New York. Mr. Seward's ne.xt im- 
portant position was that of United States 
senator from New York. 

W. H. Seward was chosen by President 
Lincoln to fill the important office of the 
secretary of state, and by his firmness and 
diplomacy in the face of difficulties, he aided 
in piloting the Union through that period of 
strife, and won an everlasting fame. This 
great statesman died at Auburn, New York, 
October 10, 1872, in the seventy-second 
year of his eventful life. 



JOSEPH JEFFERSON, a name as dear 
as it is familiar to the theater-going 
world in America, suggests first of all a fun- 
loving, drink-loving, mellow voiced, good- 
natured Dutchman, and the name of "Rip 
Van Winkle " suggests the pleasant features 
of Joe Jefferson, so intimately are play and 
player associated in the minds of those who 
have had the good fortune to shed tears of 
laughter and sympathy as a tribute to the 
greatness of his art. Joseph Jefferson was 
born in Philadelphia, February 20, 1829. 
His genius was an inheritance, if there be 
such, as his great-grandfather, Thomas 



Jefferson, was a manager and actor in Eng 
land. His grandfather, Joseph Jefferson, 
was the most popular comedian of the New 
York stage in his time, and his father, Jos- 
eph Jefferson, the second, was a good actor 
also, but the third Joseph Jefferson out- 
shone them all. 

At the age of three years Joseph Jeffer- 
son came on the stage as the child in "Pi- 
zarro," and his training was upon the stage 
from childhood. Later on he lived and 
acted in Chicago, Mobile, and Texas. After 
repeated misfortunes he returned to New 
Orleans from Texas, and his brother-in-law, 
Charles Burke, gave him money to reach 
Philadelphia, where he joined the Burton 
theater company. Here his genius soon as- 
serted itself, and his future became promis- 
ing and brilliant. His engagements through- 
out the United States and Australia were 
generally successful, and when he went to 
England in 1865 Mr. Boucicault consented 
to make some important changes in his 
dramatization of frving's story of Rip Van 
Winkle, and Mr. Jefferson at once placed 
it in the front rank as a comed}'. He made 
a fortune out of it, and played nothing else 
for many years. In later years, however, 
Mr. Jefferson acquitted himself of the charge 
of being a one-part actor, and the parts of 
"Bob Acres," "Caleb Plummer" and 
"Golightly " all testify to the versatilit}' of 
his genius. 

GEORGE BRINTON McCLELLAN, 
a noted American general, Vvas born 
in Philadelphia, December 3, 1S26. He 
graduated from the University of Pennsyl- 
vania, and in 1S46 from \\'est Point, and 
was breveted second lieutenant of engineers. 
He was with Scott in the Mexican war, 
taking part in all the engagements from 
\'era Cruz to the final capture of the Mexi- 



48 



COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHT. 



can capital, and was breveted first lieuten- 
ant and captain for gallantry displayed on 
various occasions. In 1857 he resigned his 
commission and accepted the position of 
chief engineer in the construction of the 
Illinois Central Railroad, and became presi- 
dent of the St. Louis & Cincinnati Railroad 
Company. He was commissioned major- 
general by the state of Ohio in 1861, 
placed in command of the department of 
the Ohio, and organized the first volunteers 
called for from that state. In May he was 
appointed major-general in the United 
States army, and ordered to disperse the 
confederates overrunning West Virginia. 
He accomplished this task promptly, and 
received the thanks of congress. After the 
first disaster at Bull Run he was placed 
in command of the department of Wash- 
ington, and a few weeks later of the 
Army of the Potomac. Upon retirement 
of General Scott the command of the en- 
tire United States army devolved upon Mc- 
Clellan, but he was relieved of it within a 
few months. In March, 1862, after elabor- 
ate preparation, he moved upon Manassas, 
only to find it deserted by the Confederate 
army, which had been withdrawn to im- 
pregnable defenses prepared nearer Rich- 
mond. He then embarked his armies for 
Fortress Monroe and after a long delay at 
Yorktown, began the disastrous Peninsular 
campaign, which resulted in the Army of the 
Potomac being cooped up on the James 
River below Richmond. His forces were 
then called to the support of General Pope, 
near Washington, and he was left without an 
army. After Pope's defeat McClellan was 
placed in command of the troops for the de- 
fense of the capital, and after a thorough or- 
ganization he followed Lee into Maryland 
and the battles of Antietam and South Moun- 
tain ensued. The delay which followed 



caused general dissatisfaction, and he was re- 
lieved of his command, and retired from active 
service. 

In 1864 McClellan was nominated for 
the presidency by the Democrats, and over- 
whelmingly defeated by Lincoln, three 
states only casting their electoral votes for 
McClellan. On election day he resigned 
his commission and a few months later went 
to Europe where he spent several years. 
He wrote a number of military text- books 
and reports. His death occurred October 
29, 1885. 

SAMUEL J. TILDEN.— Among the great 
statesmen whose names adorn the pages 
of American history may be found that of 
the subject of this sketch. Known as a 
lawyer of highest ability, his greatest claim 
to immortality will ever lie in his successful 
battle against the corrupt rings of his native 
state and the elevation of the standard of 
official life. 

Samuel J. Tilden was born in New Leb- 
anon, New York, February 9, 18 14. He 
pursued his academic studies at Yale Col- 
lege and the University of New York, tak- 
ing the course of law at the latter. He 
was admitted to the bar in 1S41. His rare 
ability as a thinker and writer upon public 
topics attracted the attention of President 
Van Buren, of whose policy and adminis- 
tration he became an active and efficient 
champion. He made for himself a high 
place in his profession and amassed quite a 
fortune as the result of his industry and 
judgment. During the days of his greatest 
professional labor he was ever one of the 
leaders and trusted counsellors of the Demo- 
cratic party. He was a member of the 
conventions to revise the state constitution, 
both in 1846 and 1867, and served two 
terms in the lower branch of the state leg- 



COMPEXDIi'M OF BIOGRAPHr 



49 



iilature. He was one of the controlling 
spirits in the overthrow of the notorious 
" Tweed rinj,' " and the reformation of the 
fjovernment of the citj' of New York. In 
1874 he was elected governor of the state 
of New York. While in this position he 
assailed corruption in high places, success- 
fully battling with the iniquitous "canal 
ring " and crushed its sway over all depart- 
ments of the government. Recognizing his 
character'and e.xecutive ability Mr. Tilden 
was nominated for president by the na- 
tional Democratic convention in 1S76. At 
the election he received a much larger popu- 
lar \ote than his opponent, and 184 uncon- 
tested electoral votes. There being some 
electoral votes contested, a commission ap- 
pointed by congress decided in favor of the 
Republican electors and Mr. Hayes, the can- 
didate of that party was declared elected. 
In 1880, the Democratic party, feeling that 
Mr. Tilden had been lawfully elected to the 
presidency tendered the nomination for the 
same office to Mr. Tilden, but he declined, 
retiring from all public functions, owing to 
failing health. He died August 4, 1S86. 
By will he bequeathed several millions of 
dollars toward the founding of public libra- 
ries in New York City, Yonkers, etc. 



NOAH WEBSTER.— As a scholar, law- 
yer, author and journalist, there is no 
one who stands on a higher plane, or whose 
reputation is better established than the 
honored gentleman whose name heads this 
sketch. He was a native of West Hartford, 
Connecticut, and was born October 17, 
1758. He came of an old New England 
family, his mother being a descendant of 
Governor William Bradford, of the Ply- 
mouth colony. After acquiring a solid edu- 
cation in early life Dr. Webster entered 
Yale College, from which he graduated in 



177S. For a while he taught school in 
Hartford, at the same time studying law, 
and was admitted to the bar in 1781. He 
taught a classical school at Goshen, Orange 
county, New York, in 1782-83, and while 
there prepared his spelling book, grammar 
and reader, which was issued under the title 
of "A Grammatical Institute of the English 
Language," in three parts, — so successful a 
work that up to 1876 something like forty 
million of the spelling books had been 
sold. In 1786 he delivered a course of lec- 
tures on the English language in the seaboard 
cities and the following year taught an 
academy at Philadelphia. From December 
17, 17S7, until November, 1788, he edited 
the "American Magazine, "a periodical that 
proved unsuccessful. In 1789-93 he prac- 
ticed law in Hartford having in the former 
year married the daughter of W^illiam Green- 
leaf, of Boston. He returned to New York 
and November, 1793, founded a daily paper, 
the "Minerva," to which was soon added a 
semi-weekly edition under the name of the 
" Herald. " The former is still in existence 
under the name of the "Commercial Adver- 
tiser." In this paper, over the signature of 
"Curtius," he published alengthy and schol- 
arly defense of "John Jay's treaty." 

In 179S, Dr. Webster moved to New 
Haven and in 1807 commenced the prepar- 
ation of his great work, the ' ' American Dic- 
tionary of the English Language," which 
was not completed and published until 1828. 
He made his home in Amherst, Massachu- 
setts, for the ten years succeeding 1812, and 
was instrumental in the establishment of 
Amherst College, of which institution he was 
the first president of the board of trustees. 
During 1824-5 he resided in Europe, pursu- 
ing his philological studies in Paris. He 
completed his dictionary from the libraries 
of Cambridge University in 1825, and de- 



50 



COMPEXDIL'M OF BIOGRAPlir. 



voted his leisure for the remainder of his 
life to the revision of that and his school 
books. 

Dr. Webster was a member of the legis- 
latures of both Connecticut and Massachu- 
setts, was judge of one of the courts of the 
former state and was identified with nearly 
all the literary and scientific societies in the 
neighborhood of Amherst College. He died 
in New Haven, May 28, 1843. 

Among the more prominent works ema- 
nating from the fecund pen of Dr. Noah 
Webster besides those mentioned above are 
the following: , "Sketches of American 
Policy," " Winthrop's Journal," " A Brief 
History of Epidemics," " Rights of Neutral 
Nations in time of War," "A Philosophical 
and Practical Grammar of the English Lan- 
guage," "Dissertations on the English 
Language," "A Collection of Essays," 
"The Revolution in France," "Political 
Progress of Britain," "Origin, History, and 
Connection of the Languages of Western 
Asia and of Europe ," and many others. 



WILLIAM LLOYD GARRISON, the 
great anti-slavery pioneer and leader, 
was born in Newburj-port, Massachusetts, 
December 12, 1804. He was apprenticed 
to the printing business, and in 1828 was in- 
duced to take charge of the "Journal of the 
Times" at Bennington, Vermont. While 
supporting John Quincy Adams for the presi- 
dency he took occasion in that paper to give 
expression of his views on slaverj'. These 
articles attracted notice, and a Quaker 
named Lundy, editor of the "Genius of 
Emancipation," published in Baltimore, in- 
duced him to enter a partnership with him 
for the conduct of his paper. It soon 
transpired that the views of the partners 
were not in harmony, Lund}' favoring grad- 
ual emancipation, while Garrison favored 



immediate freedom. In 1850 Mr. Garrison 
was thrown into prison for libel, not being 
able to pay a fine of fifty dollars and costs. 
In his cell he wrote a number of poems 
which stirred the entire north, and a mer- 
chant, Mr. Tappan, of New York, paid his 
fine and liberated him, after seven weeks of 
confinement. He at once began a lecture 
tour of the northern cities, denouncing 
slavery as a sin before God, and demanding 
its immediate abolition in the name of re- 
ligion and humanity. He opposed the col- 
onization scheme of President Monroe and 
other leaders, and declared the right of 
every slave to immediate freedom. 

In 1 83 1 he formed a partnership wilh 
Isaac Knapp, and began the publication of 
the "Liberator" at Boston. The "imme- 
diate abolition " idea began to gather power 
in the north, while the south became 
alarmed at the bold utterance of this jour- 
nal. The mayor of Boston was besoughi 
by southern influence to interfere, and upon 
investigation, reported upon the insignifi- 
cance, obscurity, and poverty of the editor 
and his staff, which report was widely 
published throughout the country. Re- 
wards were offered by the southern states 
for his arrest and conviction. Later Garri- 
son brought from England, where an eman- 
cipation measure had just been passed, 
some of the great advocates to^work for the 
cause in this country. In 1S35 a mob 
broke into his office, broke up a meeting of 
women, dragged Garrison through the street 
with a rope around his body, and his life 
was saved only by the interference of the 
police, who lodged him in jail. Garrison 
declined to sit in the World's Anti-Slaverv 
convention at London in 1840, because 
that body had refused women representa- 
tion. He opposed the formation of a po- 
litical part}" with emancipation as its basis. 



COMPEXDICM OF BIOGRAPHT. 



51 



He favored a dissolution of the union, and 
declared the constitution which bound the 
free states to the slave states " A covenant 
with death and an agreement with hell." 
In 1843 he became president of the Amer- 
ican Anti-Slavery society, which position he 
held until 1865, when slavery was no more. 
During all this time the " Liberator " had 
continued to promulgate anti-slavery doc- 
trines, but in 1865 Garrison resigned his 
position, and declared his work was com- 
pleted. He died May 24, 1879. 



JOHN BROWN (••Brown of Ossawato- 
mie"), a noted character in American 
history, wasbornatTorrington, Connecticut, 
May 9, 1800. In his childhood he removed 
to Ohio, where he learned the tanner's 
trade. He married there, and in 1855 set- 
tled in Kansas. He lived at the village of 
Ossawatomie in that state, and there began 
his fight against slavery. He advocated im- 
mediate emancipation, and held that the 
negroes of the slave states merely waited 
for a leader in an insurrection that would re- 
sult in their freedom. He attended the 
convention called at Chatham, Canada, in 
1859, and was the leading spirit in organiz- 
mg a raid upon the United States arsenal at 
Harper's Ferry, Virginia. His plans were 
well laid, and carried out in great secrecy. 
He ren*'ed a farm house near Harper's Ferry 
in the summer of 1S59, and on October 
1 6th of that year, with about twenty follow- 
ers, he surprised and captured the United 
States arsenal, with all its supplies and 
arms. To his surprise, the negroes did not 
come to his support, and the next day he 
was attacked by the Virginia state militia, 
wounded and captured. He was tried in 
the courts of the state, convicted, and was 
hanged at Charlestown, December 2, 1S59. 
The raid and its results had a tremendous 



effect, and hastened the culmination of the 
troubles between the north and south. The 
south had the advantage in discussing this 
event, claiming that the sentiment which 
inspired this act of violence was shared by 
the anti-slavery element of the country. 



EDWIN BOOTH had no peer upon the 
American stage during his long career 
as a star actor. He was the son of a famous 
actor, Junius Brutus Booth, and was born 
in 1833 at his father's home at Belair, near 
Baltimore. At the age of sixteen he made his 
first appearance on the stage, at the Boston 
Museum, in a minor part in "Richard III." 
It was while playing in California in 1851 
that an eminent critic called general atten- 
tion to the young actor's unusual talent. 
However, it was not until 1863, at the great 
Shakspearian revival at the Winter Garden 
Theatre, New York, that the brilliancy of 
his career began. His Hamlet held the 
boards for 100 nights in succession, and 
from that time forth Booth's reputation was 
established. In 1868 he opened hfs own 
theatre (Booth's Theater) in New York. 
Mr. Booth never succeeded as a manager, 
however, but as an actor he was undoubted- 
ly the most popular man on the American 
stage, and perhaps the most eminent one in 
the world. In England he also won the 
greatest applause. 

Mr. Booth's work was confined mostly 
to Shakspearean roles, and his art was 
characterized by intellectual acuteness, 
fervor, and poetic feeling. His Hamlet, 
Richard II, Richard HI, and Richelieu gave 
play to his greatest powers. In 1865, 
when his brother, John Wilkes Booth, 
enacted his great crime, Edwin Booth re- 
solved to retire from the stage, but waspur- 
suaded to reconsider that decision. The 
odium did not in any way attach to the 



COMPEXDIL'M OF BIOGRAPHY. 



great actor, and his popularity was not 
affected. In all his work Mr. Booth clun^^ 
closely to the legitimate and the traditional 
in drama, making no experiments, and offer- 
ing little encouragement to new dramatic 
authors. His death occurred in New York, 
June 7, 1894. 



JOSEPH HOOKER, a noted American 
officer, was born at Hadley, Massachu- 
setts. November 13, 1S14. He graduated 
from West Point Military Academy in 1837, 
and was appointed lieutenant of artillery. 
He served in Florida in the Seminole war, 
and in. garrison until the outbreak of the 
Mexican war. During the latter he saw 
service as a staff officer and was breveted 
captain, major and lieutenant-colonel for 
gallantry at Monterey, National Bridge and 
Chapultepec. Resigning his commission in 
1S33 he took up farming in California, which 
he followed until 1861. During this time 
he acted as superintendent of military roads 
in Oregon. At the outbreak of the Rebel- 
lion Hooker tendered his services to the 
government, and. Ma}' 17, 1861, was ap- 
pointed brigadier-general of volunteers. He 
served in the defence of Washington and on 
the lower Potomac until his appointment to 
the command of a division in the Third 
Corps, in March, 1862. For gallant con- 
duct at the siege of Yorktown and in the 
battles of Williamsburg, Fair Oaks, Fra- 
zier's Farm and Malvern Hill he was made 
major-general. At the head of his division 
he participated in the battles of Manassas 
and Chantilly. September 6. 1862, he was 
placed at the head of the First Corps, and 
in the battles of South Mountam and An- 
tietam acted with his usual gallantry, being 
wounded in the latter engagement. On re- 
joining the army in November he was made 
brigadier-general in the regular army. On 



General Burnside attaining the command of 
the Army of the Potomac General Hooker 
was placed in command of the center grand 
division, consisting of the Second and Fifth 
Corps. At the head of these gallant men 
he participated in the battle of Fred- 
ericksburg, December 13, 1S62. In Janu- 
ary, 1S63, General Hooker assumed com- 
mand of the Army of the Potomac, and in 
May following fought the battle of Chan- 
cellorsville. At the time of the invasion of 
Pennsylvania, owing to a dispute with Gen- 
eral Halleck, Hooker requested to be re- 
lieved of his command, and June 28 was 
succeeded b}- George G. Meade. In Sep- 
tember, 1S63, General Hooker was given 
command of the Twentieth Corps and trans- 
ferred to the Army of the Cumberland, and 
distinguished himself at the battles of Look- 
out Mountain, Missionary Ridge, and Ring- 
gold. In the Atlanta campaign he saw 
almost daily service and merited his well- 
known nickname of " Fighting Joe." July 
30, 1S64, at his own request, he was re- 
lieved of his command. He subsequently 
was in command of several military depart- 
ments in the north, and in October, 186S, 
was retired with the full rank of major-gen- 
eral. He died October 31, 1879. 



JAY GOULD, one of the greatest finan- 
ciers that the world has ever produced, 
was born May 27, 1S36, at Roxbury, Dela- 
ware county. New York. He spent his early 
years on his father's farm and at the age of 
fourteen entered Hobart Academ}', New 
York, and kept books for the village black- 
smith. He acquired a taste for mathematics 
and surveying and on leaving school found 
employment in making the surveyors map 
of Ulster county. He surveyed very exten- 
sivel}' in the state and accumulated five thou- 
sand dollars as the fruits of his l^bor. He 



COMPENDIUM OF BlOGRArHY 



was then stricken with typhoid fever but re- 
covered and maae the acquaintance of one 
Zadock Pratt, who sent him into the west- 
ern part of the state to locate a site for a 
tannery. He chose a fine hemlock grove, 
built a sawmill and blacksmith shop and 
was soon doing a large lumber business with 
Mr. Pratt. Mr. Gould soon secured control 
of the entire plant, which he sold out just 
before the panic of 1857 and in this year he 
became the largest stockholderinthe Strouds- 
burg, Pennsylvania, bank. Shortly after the 
crisis he bought the bbnds of the Rutland 
& Washington Railroad at ten cents on the 
dollar, and put all his mone}' into railroad 
securities. For a long time he conducted 
this road which he consolidated with the 
Rensselaer & Saratoga Railroad. In 1859 
he removed to New York and became a 
heavy investor in Erie Railroad stocks, en- 
tered that company and was president until 
its reorganization in 1S72. In December, 
1880, Mr. Gould was in control of ten thou- 
sand miles of railroad. In 1887 he pur- 
chased the controlling interest in the St. 
Louis & San Francisco Railroad Co., and 
was a joint owner with the Atchison, Topeka 
& Santa Fe Railroad Co. of the western 
portion of the Southern Pacific line. Other 
lines soon came under his control, aggregat- 
ing thousand of miles, and he soon was rec- 
ognized as one of the world's greatest rail- 
road magnates. He continued to hold his 
place as one of the master financiers of the 
century until the time of his death which 
occurred December 2, 1S92. 



THOMAS HART BENTON, a very 
prominent United States senator and 
statesman, was born at Hillsborough, North 
Carolina, March 14, 1782. He removed to 
Tennessee in early life, studied law, and be- 
gan to practice at Nashville about 18 10. 



During the war of 1812-1815 he served as 
colonel of a Tennessee regiment under Gen- 
eral Andrew Jackson. In 181 5 he removed 
to St. Louis, Missouri, and in 1820 was 
chosen United States senator for that state. 
Having been re-elected in 1826, he sup- 
ported President Jackson in his opposition 
to the United States bank and advocated a 
gold and silver currency, thus gaining the 
name of " Old Bullion," by which he was 
familiarly known. For many years he was 
the most prominent man in Missouri, and 
took rank among the greatest statesmen of 
his day. He was a member of the senate 
for thirty years and opposed the extreme 
states' rights policy of John C. Calhoun. 
In 1852 he was elected to the house of rep- 
resentatives in which he opposed the repeal 
of the Missouri compromise. He was op- 
posed by a powerful party of States' Rights 
Democrats in Missouri, who defeated him as a 
candidate for governor of that state in 1S56. 
Colonel Benton published a considerable 
work in two volumes in 1854-56, entitled 
" Thirty Years' View, or a History of the 
Working of the American Government for 
Thirty Years, 1820-50." He died April lo, 
1858. V 

STEPHEN ARNOLD DOUGLAS.— One 
of the most prominent figures in politic- 
al circles during the intensely exciting days 
that prsceded the war, and a leader of the 
Union branch of the Democratic party was 
the gentleman whose name heads this 
sketch. 

He was born at Brandon, Rutland coun- 
ty, Vermont, April 23, 1S13, of poor but 
respectable parentage. His father, a prac- 
ticing physician, died while our subject was 
but an infant, and his mother, with two 
small children and but small means, could 
give him but the rudiments of an education. 



54: 



:OMrEXDIUM OF BIOGRAPHr. 



At the age of fifteen young Douglas engaged 
at work in the cabinet making business to 
raise fuuds to carry him through college. 
After a few years of labor he was enabled to 
pursue an academical course, first at Bran- 
don, and later at Canandaigua, New York. 
In the latter place he remained until 1833, 
taking up the study of law. Before he was 
twenty, however, his lunds running low, he 
abandoned all further attempts at educa- 
tion, determining to enter at once the battle 
of life. After some wanderings tnrough the 
western states he tooK up his residence at 
Jacksonville, Iliinois, where, after teaching 
school -for three months, he was admitted to 
the bar, and opened an office in 1834. 
Within a year from that time, so rapidly had 
he risen in his profession, he was chosen 
attorney general of the state, and warmly 
espoused the principles of the Democratic 
party. He soon became one of the most 
popular orators in Illinois. It was at this 
time he gained the name of the "Little 
Giant." In 1835 he resigned the position 
of attorney general having been elected to 
the legislature. In 1841 he was chosen 
judge of the supreme court of Illinois which 
he resigned two years later to take a seat in 
congress. It was during this period of his 
life, while a member of the lower house, 
that he established his reputation and took 
the side of those who contended that con- 
gress had no constitutional right to restrict 
the extension of slavery further than the 
agreement between the states made in 1820. 
This, in spite of his being opposed to slav- 
ery, and only on grounds which he believed 
to be right, favored what was called the 
Missouri compromise. In 1847 ^'r. Doug- 
las was chosen United States senator for 
si.x years, and greatly distinguished himself. 
In 1852 he was re-eiected to the same office. 
During this latter term, under his leader- 



ship, the " Ivansas-Nebraska bill " was car- 
ried in the senate. In 1858, nothwith- 
standing the fierce contest made by his able 
competitor for the position, Abraham Lin- 
coln, and with the administration of Bu- 
chanan arrayed against him, Mr. Douglas 
was re-elected senator. After the trouble 
in the Charleston convention, when by the 
withdrawal of several state delegates with- 
out a nomination, the Union Democrats, 
in convention at Baltimore, in i860, nomi- 
nated Mr. Douglas as their candidate for 
presidency. The results of this election are 
well known and the great events of 1861 
coming on, Mr. Douglas was spared their 
full development, dying at Chicago, Illinois. 
June 3, 1 861, after a short illness. His 
last words to his children were, " to obey 
the laws and support the constitution of the 
United States." 



JAMES MONROE, fifth president of the 
United States, was born in Westmore- 
land county, Virginia, April 28, 1758. At 
the age of sixteen he entered William and 
Mary College, but two years later the 
Declaration of Independence having been 
adopted, he left college and hastened to New 
York where he joined Washington's army as 
a military cadet. 

At the battle of Trenton Monroe per- 
formed gallant service and received a wound 
in the shoulder, and was promoted to a 
captaincy. He acted as aide to Lord Ster- 
ling at the battles of Brandywine, German ■ 
town and , Monmouth. Washington then 
sent him to Virginia to raise a new regiment 
of which he was to be colonel. The ex- 
hausted condition of Virginia made this im • 
possible, but he received his commission. 
Ke next entered the law office of Thoma; 
Jefferson to study law, as there was no open- 
ing for him as an officer in the army, in 



COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY. 



1782 he was elected to the \'irginia assem- 
bly, and the next year he was elected to the 
Continental congress. Realizing the inade- 
quacy of the old articles of confederation, 
he advocated the calling of a convention to 
consider their revision, and introduced in 
congress a resolution empowering congress 
to regulate trade, lay import duties, etc. 
This resolution was referred to a committee, 
of which he was chairman, and the report 
led to the Annapolis convention, which 
called a general convention to meet at Phila- 
delphia in 1787, when the constitution was 
drafted. Mr. Monroe began the practice of 
law at Fredericksburg, Virginia, and was 
soon after -;'-;cted to the legislature, and ap- 
pointed as one of the committee to pass 
upon the adoption of the constitution. He 
opposed it, as giving too much power to the 
central government. He was elected to the 
United States senate in 17S9, where he 
allied himself with the Anti-Federalists or 
"Republicans," as they were sometimes 
called. Although his views as to neutrality 
between France and England were directly 
opposed to those of the president, yet Wash- 
ington appointed him minister to France. 
His popularity in France was so great that 
the antagonism of England and her friends 
in this country brought about his recall. He 
then became governor of Virginia. He was 
sent as envoy to France in 1802; minister 
to England in 1803; and envoy to Spam in 
I So 5. The next year he returned to his 
estate in Virginia, and with an ample in- 
heritance enjoyed a few years of repose. He 
was again called to be governor of Virginia, 
and was then appointed secretary of state 
by President Madison. The war with Eng- 
land soon resulted, and when the capital 
was burned by the British, Mr. Monroe be- 
came secretary of war also, and planned the 
measures for the defense of New Orleans. 



The treasury being exhausted and credit 
gone, he pledged his own estate, and thereby 
made possible the victory of Jackson at New 
Orleans. 

In 1817 Mr. Monroe became president 
of the United States, having been a candi- 
date of the "Republican" party, which at 
that time had begun to be called the ' ' Demo- 
cratic" party. In 1820 he was re-elected, 
having two hundred and thirty-one electoral 
votes out of two hundred and thirty-two. 
ITis administration is known as the "Era of 
good-feeling," and party lines were almost 
wiped out. The slavery question began tO' 
assume importance at this time, and the 
Missouri Compromise was passed. The 
famous ' • Monroe Doctrine " originated in a 
great state paper of President Monroe upon 
the rumored interference of the Holy Alli- 
ance to prevent the formation of free repub- 
lics in South America. President Monroe 
acknowledged their independence, and pro- 
mulgated his great "Doctrine," which has 
been held in reverence since. Mr. Monroe's 
death occurred in New York on July 4, 1 831. 



THOMAS ALVA EDISON, the master 
wizard of electrical science and whose 
name is synonymous with the subjugation 
of electricity to the service of man, was 
born in 1847 at Milan, Ohio, and it was at 
Port Huron, Michigan, whither his parents 
had moved in 1854, that his self-education 
began — for he never attended school for 
more than two months. He eagerly de- 
voured every book he could lay his hands on 
and is said to have read through an encyclo- 
pedia without missing a word. At thirteen he 
began his working life as a trainboy upon the 
Grand Trunk Railway between Port Huron 
and Detroit. Much of his time was now 
spent in Detroit, where he found increased 
facilities for reading at the public libraries. 



56 



COMPEXDIUM OF niOGRAPHV. 



He was not content to be a newsbo_v, so ha 
got logetner three hundred pounds of type 
and started the issue of the " Grand Trunk 
Herald." It was onlj' a small amateur 
weekly, printed on one side, the impression 
being made from the type by hand. Chemi- 
cal research was his next undertaking and 
a laboratory was added to his movable pub- 
lishing house, which, by the way, was an 
old freight car. One day, however, as he 
was experimenting with some phosphorus, 
it ignited and the irate conductor threw the 
young seeker after the truth, chemicals and 
all, from the train. His office and laboratory 
were then removed to the cellar of his fa- 
ther's house. As he grew to manhood he 
decided to become an operator. He won 
his opportunity by saving the life of a child, 
uhose father was an old operator, and out of 
gratitude he gave Mr. Edison lessons in teleg- 
raphy. Five months later he was compe- 
tent to fill a position in the railroad office 
at Port Huron. Hence he peregrinated to 
Stratford, Ontario, and thence successively 
to Adrian, Fort Wayne, Indianapolis, Cin- 
cinnati, Memphis, Louisville and Boston, 
gradually becoming an expert operator and 
gaming experience' that enabled him to 
evolve many ingenious ideas for the im- 
provement of telegraphic appliances. At 
Memphis he constructed an automatic re- 
peater, which enabled Louisville and New 
Orleans to communicate direct, and received 
nothing more than the thanks of his em- 
ployers. Mr. Edison came to New York in 
1870 in search of an opening more suitable 
to his capabilities and ambitions. He hap- 
pened to be in the office of the Laws Gold 
Reporting Company when one of the in- 
s'.ruments got out of order, and even the 
inventor of the system could not make it 
work. Edison requested to be allowed to 
attempt the task, and in a few minutes he 



had overcome the difficulty and secured an 
advantageous engagement. For several 
years he had a contract with the Western 
Union and the Gold Stock companies, 
whereby he received a large salary', besides 
a special price for all telegraphic improve- 
ments he could suggest. Later, as the 
head of the Edison General Electric com- 
pany, with its numerous subordinate organ- 
izations and connections all over the civil- 
ized world, he became several times a 
millionaire. Mr. Edison invented the pho- 
nograph and kinetograph which bear his 
name, the carbon telephone, the tasimeter, 
and the duplex and quadruplex systems of 
telegraphy. 

JAMES LONGSTREET, one of the most 
conspicuous of the Confederate generals 
during the Civil war, was born in 1820, in 
South Carolina, but was early taken by his 
parents to Alabama where he grew to man- 
hood and received his early education. He 
graduated at the United States military 
academy in 1842, entering the army as 
lieutenant and spent a few years in the fron- 
tier service. When the Mexican war broke 
out he was called to the front and partici- 
pated in all the principal battles cf that war 
up to the storming of Chapultepec, where 
he received severe wounds. For gallant 
conduct at Contreras, Cherubusco, and Mo- 
lino del Rey he received the brevets of cap- 
tain and major. After the close of the 
Mexican war Longstreet served as adjutant 
and captain on frontier service in Texas un- 
til 1858 when he was transferred to the stafi 
as paymaster with rank of major. In June, 
1 86 1, he resigned to join the Confederacy 
and immediately went to the front, com- 
manding a brigade at Bull Run the follow- 
ing month. Promoted to be major-general 
in 1862 he thereafter bore a conspicuous 



COMPEXDIUM OF BIOGRAPHV. 



part and rendered valuable service to the 
Confederate cause. He participated in 
nian}^ of the most severe battles of the Civil 
war including Bull Run (first and second), 
Seven Pines, Gaines' Mill, Fraziers Farm, 
Malvern Hill, Antietam, Frederickburg, 
Chancellorsville, Gettj-sburg, Chickamauga, 
the Wilderness, Petersburg and most of the 
fighting about Richmond. 

When the war closed General Long- 
street accepted the result, renewed his alle- 
giance to the government, and thereafter 
labored earnestly to obliterate all traces of 
war and promote an era of good feeling be- 
tween all sections of the country. He took 
up his residence in New Orleans, and took 
an active interest and prominent part in 
public affairs, served as surveyor of that 
port for several years; was commissioner of 
engineers for Louisiana, served four years 
as school commissioner, etc. In 1S75 he 
was appointed supervisor of internal revenue 
and settled in Georgia. After that time he 
served four years as United States minister 
to Turkey, and also for a number of years 
was United States marshal of Georgia, be- 
sides having held other important official 
positions. 

JOHN RUTLEDGE, the second chief- 
justice of the United States, was born 
at Charleston, South Carolina, in 1739. 
He was a son of John Rutledge, who had 
left Ireland for America about five years 
prior to the birth of our subject, and a 
brother of Edward Rutledge, a signer of the 
Declaration of Independence. John Rut- 
ledge received his legal education at the 
Temple, London, after which he returned 
to Charleston and soon won distinction at 
the bar. He was elected to the old Colonial 
CQngress in 1765 to protest against the 
" Stamp Act," and was a member of the 



South Carolina convention of 1774, an^J of 
the Continental congress of that and the 
succeeding year. In 1776 he was chairman 
of the committee that draughted the con- 
stitution of his state, and was president of 
the congress of that state. He was not 
pleased with the state constitution, how- 
ever, and resigned. In 1779 he was again 
chosen governor of the state, and granted 
e.xtraordinary powers, and he at once took 
the field to repel the British. He joined 
the army of General Gates in 1782, and the 
same year was elected to congress. He 
was a member of the constitutional con- 
vention which framed our present constitu- 
tion. In 17S9 he was appointed an associate 
justice of the first supreme court of the 
United States. He resigned to accept the 
position of chief-justice of his own state. 
Upon the resignation of Judge Jay^ he was 
appointed chief-justice of the United States 
in 1795. The appointment was never con- 
firmed, for, after presiding at one session, 
his mind became deranged, and' he was suc- 
ceeded by Judge Ellsworth. He died at 
Charleston, July 23, 1800. 



RALPH WALDO EMERSON was one 
of the most noted literary men of his 
time. He was born in Boston, Massachu- 
setts, May 25, 1803. He had a minister for 
an ancestor, either on the paternal or ma- 
ternal side, in every generation for eight 
generations back. His father. Rev. Will- 
iam Emerson, was a native of Concord, 
Massachusetts, born May 6, 1769, graduated 
at Harvard, in 17S9, became a Unitarian 
minister; was a fine writer and one of the 
best orators of his day; died in 181 1, 

Ralph Waldo Emerson was fitted for 
college at the public schools of Boston, and 
graduated at Harvard College in 1821, win- 
ning about this time several prizes for es- 



58 



COMPEXDIUM OF BIOGRAPHV. 



says. For five years he taught school in 
Boston; in 1826 was licensed to preach, and 
in 1829 was ordained as a colleague to Rev. 
Henry Ware of the Second Unitarian church 
in Boston. In 1832 he resigned, making 
the announcement in a sermon of his un- 
svillingness longer to administer the rite of 
»he Lord's Supper, after which he spent 
about a year in Europe. Upon his return 
he began his career as a lecturer before the 
Boston Mechanics Institute, his subject be- 
ing "Water. " His early lectures on ' ' Italy" 
and "Relation of Man to the Globe" also 
attracted considerable attention; as did also 
his biographical lectures on Michael Angelo, 
Milton, Luther, George Fo.x, and Edmund 
Burke. After that time he gave many 
courses of lectures in Boston and became 
one of the best known lecturers in America. 
But very few men have rendered such con- 
tinued service in this field. He lectured for 
forty successive seasons before the Salem, 
Massachusetts, Lyceum and also made re- 
peated lecturing tours in this country and in 
England. In 1S35 Mr. Emerson took up 
his residence at Concord, Massachusetts, 
where he continued to make his home until 
his death which occurred April 27, 1882. 

Mr. Emerson's literary work covered a 
wide scope. He wrote and published many 
works, essays and poems, which rank high 
among the works of American literary men. 
A few of the many which he produced are 
the following: "Nature;" "The Method 
of Nature;" " Man Thinking;" "The Dial;" 
"Essays;" "Poems;" "English Traits;" 
"The Conduct of Life;" "May-Day and 
other Poems " and " Society and Solitude;" 
besides many others. He was a prominent 
member of the American Academy of Arts 
and Sciences, of the American Philosophical 
Society, the Massachusetts Historical Society 
and other kindred associations. 



ALEXANDER T. STEWART, one of 
the famous merchant princes of New 
York, was born near the city of Belfast, Ire- 
land, in 1S03, and before he was eight years 
of age was left an orphan without any near 
relatives, save an aged grandfather. The 
grandfather being a pious Methodist wanted 
to make a minister of young Stewart, and 
accordingly put him in a school with that 
end in view and he graduated at Trinity Col- 
lege, in Dublin. When scarcely twenty 
years of age he came to New York. His 
first employment was that of a teacher, but 
accident soon made him a merchant. En- 
tering into business relations with an ex- 
perienced man of his acquaintance he soon 
found himself with the rent of a store on 
his hands and alone in a new enterprise. 
Mr. Stew-art's business grew rapidly in all 
directions, but its founder had executive 
ability sufficient forany and all emergencies, 
and in time his house became one of the 
greatest mercantile establishments of mod- 
ern times, and the name of Stewart famous. 
Mr. Stewart's death occurred April 10, 
1876. 

JAMES FENIMORE COOPER. — In 
speaking of this noted American nov- 
elist, William CuHen Bryant said: " He 
wrote for mankind at large, hence it is that 
he has earned a fame wider than any Amer- 
ican author of modern times. The crea- 
tions of his genius shall survive through 
centuries to come, and only perish with our 
language." Another eminent writer (Pres- 
cott) said of Cooper: " In his productions 
every American must take an honest pride; 
for surely no one has succeeded like Cooper 
in the portraiture of American character, or 
has given such glowing and eminently truth- 
ful pictures of American scenery." 

James Fenimore Cooper was born Sep- 



COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY. 



59 



tember 15, 1789, at Burlington, New Jer- 
sey, and was a son of Judge William Cooper. 
About a year after the birth of our subject 
the family removed to Otsego county, New 
York, and founded the town called ' ' Coop- 
-^rstown." James Fenimore Cooper spent 
his childhood there and in 1S02 entered 
Yale College, and four years later became a 
midshipman in the United States navj'. In 
181 1 he was married, quit the seafaring life, 
and began devoting more or less time to lit- 
erary pursuits. His first work was "Pre- 
caution," a novel published in 18 19, and 
three years later he produced ' ' The Spy, a 
Tale of Neutral Ground," which met with 
fjreat favor and was a universal success. 
This was followed by many other works, 
among which may be mentioned the follow- 
ing: " The Pioneers," "The Pilot," " Last 
of the Mohicans," "The Prairie," "The 
Red Rover," "The Manikins," "Home- 
ward Bound," "Home as Found," "History 
of the United States Navy," "The Path- 
finder," "Wing and Wing," "Afloat and 
Ashore," "The Chain-Bearer," "Oak- 
Openings," etc. J. Fenimore Cooper died 
at Cooperstown, New York, September 14, 
1851. 



MARSHALL 
chant prir 



;ALL field, one of the mer- 
princes of America, ranks among 
the most successful business men of the cen- 
tury. He was born in 1835 at Conway, 
Massachusetts. He spent his earl}- life on 
a farm and secured a fair education in the 
common schools, supplementing this with a 
course at the Conway Academy. His 
natural bent ran in the channels of commer- 
cial life, and at the age of seventeen he was 
given a position in a store at Pittsfield, 
Massachusetts. Mr. Field remained there 
four years and removed to Chicago in 1S56. 
He besfan his career in Chicago as a clerk 



in the wholesale dry goods house of Cooley, 
Wadsworth & Company, which later be- 
came Cooley, Farwell & Company, and still 
later John V. Farwell & Company. He 
remained with them four years and exhibit- 
ed marked ability, in recognition of which 
he was given a partnership. In 1865 Mr. 
Field and L. Z. Leiter, who was also a 
member of the firm, withdrew and formed 
the firm of Field, Palmer & Leiter, the 
third partner being Potter Palmer, and they 
continued in business until 1867, when Mr. 
Palmer retired and the firm became Field, 
Leiter & Company. They ran under the 
latter name until 1S81, when Mr. Leiter re- 
tired and the house has since continued un- 
der the name of Marshall Field & Company. 
The phenomenal success accredited to -the 
house is largely due to the marked ability 
of Mr. Field, the house had become one of 
the foremost in the west, with an annual 
sale of $8,000,000 in 1870. The total loss 
of the firm during .the Chicago fire was 
$3,500,000 of which $2,500,600 was re- 
covered through the insurance companies. 
It rapidly recovered from the effects of this 
and to-day the annual sales amount to over 
$40,000,000. Mr. Field's real estate hold- 
ings amounted to $10,000,000. He was 
one of the heaviest subscribers to the Bap- 
tist University fund although he is a Presby- 
terian, and gave $1,000,000 for the endow- 
ment of the Field Columbian Museum — 
one of the greatest institutions of the kind 
in the world. 

EDGAR WILSON NYE, who won an im- 
mense popularity under the pen name 
of " Bill Nye," was one of the most eccen- 
tric humorists of his day. He was born Au- 
gust 25, 1850, at Shirley, Piscataqua coun- 
ty, Maine, "at a verj' early age " as he ex- 
presses it. He took an academic course in 



60 



COMPEXDIL'M OF BIOGRAPHY. 



River Falls, Wisconsin, from whence, after 
his graduation, he removed to Wyoming 
Territory. He studied law and was ad- 
mitted to the bar in 1876. He began when 
quite young to contribute humorous sketches 
to the newspapers, became connected with 
various western journals and achieved a 
brilliant success as a humorist. Mr. Nye 
settled later in New York City where he 
devoted his time to writing funny articles for 
the big newspaper syndicates. He wrote for 
publication in book form the following : 
"Bill Nye and the Boomerang," "The 
Forty Liars," "Baled Hay," "Bill Nye's 
Blossom Rock," "Remarks," etc. His 
death occurred February 21, 1896, atAshe- 
ville, North Carolina. 



THOMAS DE WITT TALMAGE, one of 
the most celebrated American preach- 
ers, was born January 7, 1832, and was the 
youngest of twelve children. He made his 
preliminary studies at the grammar school 
in New Brunswick, New Jersey. At the age 
of eighteen he joined the church and entered 
the University of the City of New York, and 
graduated in May, 1853. The exercises 
were held in Niblo's Garden and his speech 
aroused the audience to a high pitch of en- 
thusiasm. At the close of his college duties 
he imagined himself interested in the law 
and for three years studied law. Dr. Tal- 
mage then perceived his mistake and pre- 
pared himself for the ministry at the 
Reformed Dutch Church Theological Semi- 
nary at New Brunswick, New Jersey. Just 
after his ordination the young minister re- 
ceived two calls, one from Piermont, New 
York, and the other from Belleville, New 
Jersey. Dr. Talmage accepted the latter 
and for three years filled that charge, when 
he was called to Syracuse, New York. Here 
it was that his sermons first drew large 



crowds of people to his church, and frcn^ 
thence dates his popularity. Afterward he 
became the pastor of the Second Reformed 
Dutch church, of Philadelphia, remaining 
seven years, during which period he first 
entered upon the lecture platform and laid 
the foundation for his future reputation. At 
the end of this time he received three calls, 
one from Chicago, one from San Francisco, 
and one from the Central Presbyterian 
church of Brooklyn, which latter at that 
time consisted of only nineteen members 
with a congregation of about thirty-five. 
This church offered him a salary of seven 
thousand dollars and he accepted the call. 
He soon induced the trustees to sell the old 
church and build a new one. They did so 
and erected the Brooklyn Tabernacle, but 
it burned down shortly after it was finished. 
By prompt sympathy and general liberality 
a new church was built and formally opened 
in February, 1874. It contained seats for 
four thousand, six hundred and fifty, but if 
necessary seven thousand could be accom- 
modated. In October, 1878, his salary was 
raised from seven thousand dollars to twelve 
thousand dollars, and in the autumn of 1889 
the second tabernacle was destroyed by fire. 
A third tabernacle was built and it was for- 
mally dedicated on Easter Sunday, 1891. 



JOHN PHILIP SOUSA, conceded as 
being one of the greatest band leaders 
in the world, won his fame while leader of 
the United States Marine Band at W'ashing- 
ton. District of Columbia. He was not 
originally a band player but was a violinist, 
and at the age of seventeen he was conduc- 
tor of an opera company, a profession which 
he followed for several years, until he was 
offered the leadership of the Marine Band 
at Washington. The proposition was re- 
pugnant to him at first but he accepted the 



COMPEXDIUM OF BIOGRAPHV. 



61 



offer and then ensued ten years of brilliant 
success with that organization. When he 
first took the Marine Band he began to 
gather the national airs of all the nations 
that have representatives in Washington, 
and compiled a comprehensive volume in- 
cluding nearly all the national songs of the 
different nations. He composed a number 
of marches, waltzes and two-steps, promi- 
nent among which are the "Washington 
Post," "Directorate," " Iving Cotton," 
"High School Cadets," "Belle of Chica- 
go," "Liberty Bell March," "Manhattan 
Beach," "On Parade March," " Thunderer 
March," "Gladiator March," " El Capitan 
March," etc. He became a very extensive 
composer of this class of music. 



JOHN QUINCY ADAMS, sixth president 
of the United States, was born in 
Braintree, Massachusetts, July ii, 1767, 
the son of John Adams. At the age of 
eleven he was sent to school at Paris, and 
two years later to Leyden, where he entered 
that great university. He returned to the 
United States in 1785, and graduated from 
Harvard in 1788. He then studied law, 
and was admitted to the bar in 1791. His 
practice brought no income the first two 
years, but he won distinction in literary 
fields, and was appointed minister to The 
Hague in 1794. He married in 1797, and 
went as minister to Berlin the same year, 
'serving until 1801, when Jefferson became 
president. He was elected to the senate in 
!So3 by the Federalists, but was condemned 
by that party for advocating the Embargo 
Act and other Anti-Federalist measures. He 
was appointed as professor of rhetoric at 
Harvard in 1805, and in 1809 was sent as 
minister to Russia. He assisted in negotiat- 
ing the treaty of peace with England in 
1814, and became minister to that power 



the next year. He served during Monroe's 
administration two terms as secretary of 
state, during which time party lines were 
obliterated, and in 1824 four candidates for 
president appeared, all of whom were iden- 
tified to some extent with the new " Demo- 
cratic" party. Mr. Adams received 84 elec- 
toral votes, Jackson 99, Crawford 41, and 
Clay 37. As no candidate had a majority 
of all votes, the election went to the house 
of representatives, which elected Mr. Adams. 
As Clay had thrown his influence to Mr. 
Adams, Clay became secretary of state, and 
this caused bitter feeling on the part of the 
Jackson Democrats, who were joined by 
Mr. Crawford and his following, and op- 
posed every measure of the administration. 
In the election of 1S28 Jackson was elected 
over Mr. Adams by a great majority. 

Mr. Adams entered the lower house of 
congress in 1830, elected from the district 
in which he was born and continued to rep- 
resent it for seventeen years. He was 
known as " the old man eloquent," and his 
work in congress was independent of party. 
He opposed slavery extension and insisted 
upon presenting to congress, one at a time, 
the hundreds of petitions against the slave 
power. One of these petitions, presented in 
1842, was signed by forty-five citizens of 
Massachusetts, and prayed congress for a 
peaceful dissolution of the Union. His 
enemies seized upon this as an opportunity 
to crush their powerful foe, and in a caucus 
meeting determined upon his expulsion from 
congress. Finding they would not be able 
to command enough votes for this, they de- 
cided upon a course that would bring equal 
disgrace. They formulated a resolution to 
the effect that while he merited expulsion, 
the house would, in great mercy, substitute 
its severest censure. When it was read in the 
house the old man, then in his seventy-fifth 



62 



COMPEXDIi'M OF BIOGRAPHY. 



5'ear, arose and demanded that the first para- 
graph of the Declaration of Independence 
be read as his defense. It embraced the 
famous sentence, "that whenever any form 
of government becomes destructive to those 
ends, it is the right of the people to alter or 
abolish it, and to institute new government, 
etc., etc." After eleven days of hard fight- 
ing his opponents were defeated. On Febru- 
ary 21, 1848, he rose to address the speaker 
on the Oregon question, when he suddenl}' 
fell from a stroke of paral3'sis. He died 
soon after in the rotunda of the capitol, 
where he had been conveyed by his col- 
leagues. 

SUSAN B. ANTHONY was one of the 
most famous women of America. She 
was born at South Adams, Massachusetts, 
February 15, 1820, the daughter of a 
Quaker. She received a good education 
and became a school teacher, following that 
profession for fifteen years in New York. 
Beginning with about 1852 she becam.e th€ 
active leader of the woman's rights move- 
ment and won a wide reputation for her 
zeal and ability. She also distinguished 
herself for her zeal and eloquence in the 
temperance and anti-slavery causes, and 
became a conspicuous figure during the war. 
After the close of the war she gave most of 
her labors to the cause of woman's suffrage. 



PHILIP D. ARMOUR, one of the most 
conspicuous figures in the mercantile 
history of America, was born May 16, 1S32, 
on a farm at Stockbridge, Madison county. 
New York, and received his early education 
in the common schools of that county. He 
was apprenticed to a farmer and worked 
faithfully and well, being very ambitious and 
desiring to start out for himself. At the 
age of twentj- he secured a release from his 



indentures and set out overland for the 
gold fields of California. After a great 
deal of hard work he accumulated a little 
money and then came east and settled 
in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. He went into 
the grain receiving and warehouse busi- 
ness and was fairly successful, and later on 
he formed a partnership with John Plankin- 
ton in the pork packing line, the style of the 
firm being Plankinton & Armour. Mr. Ar- 
mour made his first great "deal" in selling 
pork "short " on the New Y'ork market in 
the anticipation of the fall of the Confed- 
eracy, and Mr. Armour is said to have made 
through this deal a million dollars. He then 
established packing houses in Chicago and 
Kansas City, and in 1S75 he removed to 
Chicago. He increased his business by add- 
ing to it the shipment of dressed beef to 
the European markets, and manj- other lines 
of trade and manufacturing, and it rapidly 
assumed vast proportions, employing an 
army of men in different lines of the busi- 
ness. Mr. Armour successfully conducted a 
great many speculative deals in pork and 
grain of immense proportions and also erected 
man\' large warehouses for the storage of 
grain. He became one of the representative 
business men of Chicago, where he became 
closely identified with all enterprises of a 
public nature, but his fame as a great busi- 
ness man extended to all parts of the world. 
He founded the "Armour Institute " at Chi- 
cago and also contributed largelv to benevo- 
lent and charitable institutions. 



ROBERT FULTON.— Although Fulton 
is best known as the inventor of the 
first successful steamboat, yet his claims to 
distinction do not rest alone upon that, for 
he was an inventor along other lines, a 
painter and an author. He was born at 
Little Britain, Lancaster countv, Pennsy! 



COMPENDIUM Oi- BIOGRAPIir. 



65 



vania, in 1765, of Scotch-Irish ancestrj'. 
At the age of seventeen he removed to Phila- 
delphia, and there and in New York en- 
gaged in miniature painting with success 
both from a pecuniary and artistic point of 
view. With the results of his labors he pur- 
chased a farm for the support of his mother. 
He went to London and studied under the 
great painter, Benjamin West, and all 
through life retained his fondness for art 
and gave evidence of much ability in that 
line. While in England he was brought in 
contact with the Duke of Bridgewater, the 
father of the English canal system; Lord 
Stanhope, an eminent mechanician, and 
James Watt, the inventor of the steam en- 
gine. Their influence turned his mind to its 
true field of labor, that of mechanical in- 
vention. Machines for flax spinning, 
marble sawing, rope making, and for remov- 
ing earth from e.xcavations, are among his 
earliest ventures. His "Treatise on the 
Improvement of Canal Navigation, " issued 
in 1796, and a series of essays on canals 
were soon followed by an English patent 
for canal improvements. In 1797 he went 
to Paris, where he resided until 1S06, and 
there invented a submarine torpedo boat for 
maritime defense, but which was rejected 
by the governments of France, England and 
the United States. In i S03 he offered to con- 
struct for the Emperor Napoleon a steam- 
boat that would assist in carrying out the 
plan of invading Great Britain then medi- 
tated by that great captain. In pursuance 
he constructed his first steamboat on the 
Seine, but it did not prove a full success 
and the idea was abandoned by the French 
government. By the aid of Livingston, 
then United States minister to France, 
Fulton purchased, in 1806, an engine which 
he brought to this country. After studying 
the defects of his own and other attempts in 



this line he built and launched in 1807 the 
Clermont, the first successful steamboat. 
This craft only attained a speed of five 
miles an hour while going up North river. 
His first patent not fully covering his in- 
vention, Fulton was engaged in many law 
suits for infringement. He constructed 
many steamboats, ferryboats, etc., among 
these being the United States steamer 
" Fulton the First," built in 1S14, the first 
war steamer ever built. This craft never 
attained any great speed owing to some de- 
fects in construction and accidentally blew 
up in 1829. Fulton died in New York, Feb- 
ruary 21, 1 81 5. 



SALMON PORTLAND CHASE, si.xth 
chief-justice of the United States, and 
one of the most eminent of American jurists, 
was born in Cornish, New Hampshire, Jan- 
uary 13, 1808. At the age of nine he was 
left in poverty by the death of his father, 
but means were found to educate him. He 
WIS sent to his uncle, a bishop, who con- 
ducted an academy near Columbus, Ohio, 
and here young Chase worked on the farm 
and attended school. At the age of fifteen 
he returned to his native state and entered 
Dartmouth College, from which he gradu- 
ated in 1 826. He then went to Washington, 
and engaged in teaching school, and study- 
ing law under the instruction of William 
Wirt. He was licensed to practice in 1829, 
and went to Cincinnati, where he had a 
hard struggle for several years following. 
He had in the meantime prepared notes on 
the statutes of Ohio, which, when published, 
brought him into prominence locally. He 
was soon after appointed solicitor of the 
United States Bank. In 1837 he appeared 
as counsel for a fugitive slave woman, Ma- 
tilda, and sought by all the powers of his 
learning a'nd eloquence to prevent her owner 



m 



COMrEXDIUM OF BIOGRAPHV. 



from reclaiming her. He acted in many- 
other cases, and devolved the trite expres- 
sion, "Slavery is sectional, freedom is na- 
tional. " He was employed to defend Van 
Zandt before the supreme court of the United 
States in 1846, which was one of the most 
noted cases connected with the great strug- 
gle against slavery. By this time Mr. Chase 
had become the recognized leader of that 
element known as " free-soilers." He was 
elected to the United States senate in 1849, 
and was chosen governor of Ohio in 1855 
and re-elected in 1857. He was chosen to 
the United States senate from Ohio in 1861, 
but was made secretary of the treasury by 
Lincoln and accepted. He inaugurated a 
financial system to replenish the exhausted 
treasury and meet the demands of the great- 
est war in history and at the same time to 
revive the industries of the country. One 
of the measures which afterward called for 
his judicial attention was the issuance of 
currency notes which were made a legal 
tender in payment of debts. When this 
question came before him as chief-justice 
of the United States he reversed his former 
action and declared the measure unconstitu- 
tional. The national banking system, by 
which all notes issued were to be based on 
funded government bonds of equal or greater 
amounts, had its direct origin with Mr. Chase. 
Mr. Chase resigned the treasury port- 
folio in 1864, and was appointed the same 
year as chief-justice of the United States 
supreme court. The great questions that 
came up before him at this crisis in the life 
of the nation were no less than those which 
confronted the first chief-justice at the for- 
mation of our government. Reconstruction, 
private, state and nations; interests, the 
constitutionality o; the acts of congress 
oascjed in Un-f-s of great excitement, the 
construction and interpretation to be placed 



upon the several amendments to the national 
constitution, — these were among the vital 
questions requiring prompt decision. He 
received a paralytic stroke in 1870, which 
impaired his health, though his mental 
powers were not affected. He continued to 
preside at the opening terms for two years 
following and died May 7, 1873. 



HARI^fET ELIZABETH BEECHER 
STOWE, a celebrated American writ- 
er, was born June 14, 1812, at Litchfield, 
Connecticut. She was a daughter of Lyman 
Beecher andasisterof Henry Ward Beecher, 
tvv-o noted divines; was carefully educated, 
and taught school for several years at Hart- 
ford, Connecticut. In 1832 Miss Beecher 
married Professor Stowe, then of Lane Semi- 
nary, Cincinnati, Ohio, and afterwards at 
Bowdoin College and Andover Seminary. 
Mrs. Stowe published in 1849 "The May- 
flower, or sketches of the descendants of the 
Pilgrims, " and in 1851 commenced in the 
"National Era "of Washington, a serial story 
which was published separately in 1852 under 
the title of " Uncle Tom's Cabin." This 
book attained almost unparalleled success 
both at home and abroad, and within ten years 
it had been translated in almost every lan- 
guage of the civilized world. Mrs. Stowe pub- 
lished in 1853 a "Key to Uncle Tom's Cabin" 
in which the data that she used was published 
and its truthfulness was corroborated. In 
1853 she accompanied her husband and 
brother to Europe, and o;; ner return puD- 
]ished "Sunny Memories of Foreign Lands" 
in k!54. Mrs. Stowe was for some time 
one ot the editors of the "Atlantic Monthly " 
and the " Hearth and Ho'me," for which 
she had written a number of articles. 
Among these, also published separately, are 
" Dred, a tale of the Great Dismal Swamp " 
(later published under the title of "Nina 



COMPEXDIL'M OF BIOGRAPHY 



67 



Gordon"); "The Minister's Wooing;" "The 
Pearl of Orr's Island;" "Agnes of Sorrento;" 
"Oldtown Folks;" " M}' Wife and I;" "Bible 
Heroines," and "A Dog's Mission." Mrs. 
Stovve's death occurred July i, 1896, at 
Hartford, Connecticut. 



THOMAS JONATHAN JACKSON, bet- 
ter known as "Stonewall" Jackson, 
was one of the most noted of the Confeder- 
ate generals of the Civil war. He was a 
soldier by nature, an incomparable lieuten- 
ant, sure to execute any operation entrusted 
to him with marvellous precision, judgment 
and courage, &nd all his individual cam- 
paigns and combats bore the stamp of a 
masterly capacity for war. He was born 
January 21, 1S24, at Clarksburg, Harrison 
county, West Virginia. He was early in 
life imbued with the desire to be a soldier 
and it is said walked from the mountains of 
Virginia to Washington, secured the aid of 
his congressman, and was appointed cadet 
at the United States Military' Academy at 
West Point from which he was graduated in 

1846. Attached to the army as brevet sec- 
ond lieutenant of the First Artillery, his first 
service was as a subaltern with Magruder's 
battery of light artillery in the Mexican war. 
He participated at the reduction of Vera 
Cruz, and was noticed for gallantry in the 
battles of Cerro Gordo, Contreras, Moline 
del Rey, Chapultepec, and the capture of 
the city of Mexico, receiving the brevets of 
captain for conduct at Contreras and Cher- 
ubusco and of major at Chapultepec. In 
the meantime he had been advanced by 
regular promotion to be first lieutenant in 

1847. In 1852, the war having closed, he 
resigned and became professor of natural 
and experimental philosophy and artillery 
instructor at the Virginia State Military 
Institute at Lexington, Virginia, where he 



remained until Virginia declared for seces- 
sion, he becoming chiefly noted for intense 
religious sentiment coupled with personal 
eccentricities. Upon the breaking out of 
the war he was made colonel and placed in 
command of a force sent to sieze Harper's 
Ferry, which he accomplished May 3, 1S61. 
Relieved by General J. E. Johnston, May 
23, he took command of the brigade of 
Valley Virginians, whom he moulded into 
that brave corps, baptized at the first 
Manassas, and ever after famous as the 
" Stonewall Brigade." After this "Stone- 
wall " Jackson was made a major-general, 
in 1 861, and participated until his death in 
all the famous campaigns about Richmond 
and in Virginia, and was a conspicuous fig- 
ure in the memorable battles of that time. 
May 2, 1863, at Chancellorsville, he wa= 
wounded severely by his own troops, two 
balls shattering his left arm and another 
passing through the palm of his right hand. 
The left arm was amputated, but pneumonia 
intervened, and, weakened by the great loss 
of blood, he died May 10, 1863. The more 
his operations in the Shenandoah valley in 
1862 are studied the more striking must the 
merits of this great soldier appear. 



JOHN GREENLEAF WHITTIER.— 
Near to the heart of the people of the 
Anglo-Saxon race will ever lie the verses of 
this, the "Quaker Poet." The author of 
"Barclay of Ury," "Maud Muller" and 
"Barbara Frietchie," always pure, fervid 
and direct, will be remembered when many 
a more ambitious writer has been forgotten. 
John G. Whittier was born at Haver- 
hill, Massachusetts, December 7, 1807. of 
Quaker parentage. He had but a common- 
school education and passed his boyhood 
days upon a farm. In early life he learned 
the trade of shoemaker. At the age of 



C8 



COMPEXDIUM OF BI0GRAPH7: 



eighteen he began to write verses for the 
Haverhill '' Gazette." He spent two years 
after that at the Haverhill academy, after 
which, in 1829, he became editor of the 
"American Manufacturer," at Boston. In 
1830 he succeeded George D. Prentice as 
editor of the "New England Weekly Re- 
view," but the following year returned to 
Haverhill and engaged in farming. In 1832 
and in 1836 he edited the " Gazette." In 
183s he was elected a member of the legis- 
lature, serving two years. In 1836 he became 
secretary of the Anti-slavery Society of Phil- 
adelphia. In 1838 and 1839 he edited the 
" Pennsylvania Freeman," but in the latter 
3'ear the office was sacked and burned by a 
mob. In 1840 Whittier settled at Ames- 
bury, Massachusetts. In 1847 he became 
corresponding editor of the " National Era," 
an anti-slavery paper published at Washing- 
ton, and contributed to its columns many of 
his anti-slavery and other favorite lyrics. 
Mr. Whittier lived for many years in retire- 
ment of Quaker simplicity, publishing several 
volumes of poetry which have raised him to 
a high place among American authors and 
brought to him the love and admiration of 
his countrymen. In the electoral colleges 
of 1 860 and 1 864 Whittier v.-as a member. 
Much of his time after i8y6 was spent at 
Oak Knoll, Danvers, Massachusetts, but 
still retained his residence at Amesbury. 
He never married. His death occurred Sep- 
tember 7, 1892. 

The more prominent prose writings of 
John G. Whittier are as follows: "Legends 
of New England," "Justice and E.xpediency, 
or Slavery Considered with a Mew to Its Abo- 
lition," " The Stranger in Lowell," " Super- 
naturalism in New England," " Leaves from 
Margaret Smith's Journal," "Old Portraits 
and Modern Sketches" and " Literary 
Sketches." 



DAVID DIXON PORTER, illustrious as 
admiral of the United States navy, and 
famous as one of the most able naval offi- 
cers of America, was born in Pennsylvania, 
June 8, 1 8 14. His father was also a naval 
officer of distinction, who left the service of 
the United States to become commander of 
the naval forces of Mexico during the war 
between that country and Spain, and 
through this fact David Dixon Porter was 
appointed a midshipman in the Mexican 
navy. Two years later David D. Porter 
joined the United States navy as midship- 
man, rose in rank and eighteen years later 
as a lieutenant he is found actively engaged 
in all the operations of our navy along the 
east coast of Mexico. When the Civil war 
broke out Porter, then a commander, was 
dispatched in the Powhattan to the relief of 
Fort Pickens, Florida. This duty accom- 
plished, he fitted out a mortar flotilla for 
the reduction of the forts guarding the ap- 
proaches to New Orleans, which it was con- 
sidered of vital importance for the govern- 
ment to get possession of. After the fall of 
New Orleans the mortar flotilla was actively 
engaged at Vicksburg, and in the fall of 
1862 Porter was made a rear-admiral and 
placed in command of all the naval forces 
on the western rivers above New Orleans. 
The ability of the man was now con- 
spicuously manifested, not only in the bat- 
tles in which he was engaged, but also in 
the creation of a formidable fleet out of 
river steamboats, which he covered with 
such plating as they would bear. In 1864 
he was transferred to the Atlantic coast to 
command the naval forces destined to oper- 
ate against the defences of Wilmington, 
North Carolina, and on Jan. 15, 1865, the 
fall of Fort Fisher was hailed by the country 
as a glorious termination of his arduous war 
service. In iSoo he was made vice-admiral 



COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHT. 



6V7 



and appointed superintendent of the Naval 
Academy. On the death of Farragut, in 
1S70, he succeeded that able man as ad- 
miral of the navy. His death occurred at 
Washington, February 13, 1891. 



NATHANIEL GREENE was one of the 
best known of the distinguished gen- 
erals who led the Continental soldiery 
against the hosts of Great Britain during 
the Revolutionary war. He was the son 
of Quaker parents, and was born at War- 
wick, Rhode Island, May 27, 1742. In 
youth he acquired a good education, chiefly 
by his own efforts, as he was a tireless 
reader. In 1770 he was elected a member 
of the Assembly of his native state. The 
news of the battle of Lexington stirred 
his blood, and he offered his services to 
the government of the colonies, receiving 
the rank of brigadier-general and the com- 
mand of the troops from Rhode Island. 
He led them to the camp at Cambridge, 
and for thus violating the tenets of their 
faith, he was cast out of the Society of 
Friends, or Quakers. He soon won the es- 
teem of General Washington. In August, 

1776, Congress promoted Greene to the 
rank of major-general, and in the battles of 
Trenton and Princeton he led a division. 
At the battle of Brandy wine, September 1 1, 

1777, he greatly distinguished himself, pro- 
tecting the retreat of the Continentals by 
his firm stand. At the battle of German- 
town, October 4, the same year, he com- 
manded the left wing of the army with 
credit. In March, 1778, he reluctantly ac- 
cepted the office of quartermaster-general, 
but only with the understanding that his 
rank m the army would not be affected and 
that in action he should retain his command. 
On the bloody field of Monmouth, June 28, 

1778, he commanded the right wing, as he 



did at the battle of Tiverton Heights. He 
was in command of the army in 1780, dur- 
ing the absence of Washington, and was 
president of the court-martial that tried and 
condemned Major Andre. After General 
Gates' defeat at Camden, North Carolina, in 
the summer of 1780, General Greene was ap- 
pointed to the command of the southern army. 
He sent out a force under General Morgan 
who defeated General Tarleton at Cowpens, 
January 17, 1781. On joining his lieuten- 
ant, in February, he found himself out num- 
bered by the British and retreated in good 
order to Virginia, but being reinforced re- 
turned to North Carolina where he fought 
the battle of Guilford, and a few days later 
compelled the retreat of Lord Cornwallis. 
The British were followed by Greene part 
of the way, when the American army 
marched into South Carolina. After vary- 
ing success he fought the battle of Eutaw 
Springs, September 8, 1781. For the latter 
battle and its glorious consequences, which 
virtually closed the war in the Carolinas, 
Greene received a medal from Congress and 
many valuable grants of land from the 
colonies of North and South Carolina and 
Georgia. On the return of peace, after a 
year spent in Rhode Island, General Greene 
took up his residence on his estate near 
Savannah, Georgia, where he died June 19, 
1786. 

EDGAR ALLEN FOE.— Among the 
many great literary men whom this 
country has produced, there is perhaps no 
name more widely known than that of Ed- 
gar Allen Foe. He was born at Boston, 
Massachusetts, February 19, 1809. His 
parents were David and Elizabeth (Arnold) 
Foe, both actors, the mother said to have 
been the natural daughter of Benedict Ar- 
nold. The parents died while Edgar was 



70 



COlsIPEXDIUM OF BIOGRAPHi: 



still a child and he was adopted by John 
Allen, a wealthy and influential resident of 
Richmond, Virginia. Edgar was sent to 
school at Stoke, Xewington, England, 
w'here he remained until he was thirteen 
years old; was prepared for college by pri- 
vate tutors, and in 1826 entered the Virginia 
University at Charlottesville. He made 
rapid progress in his studies, and was dis- 
tinguished for his scholarship, but was ex- 
pelled within a year for gambling, after 
which for several years he resided with his 
benefactor at Richmond. He then went to 
Baltimore, and in 1829 published a 71 -page 
pamphlet called "Al Aaraaf, Tamerlane 
and Minor Poems," which, however, at- 
tracted no attention and contained nothing 
of particular merit. In 1S30 he was ad- 
mitted as a cadet at West Point, but was 
expelled about a year later for irregulari- 
ties. Returning to the home of Mr. Allen 
he remained for some time, and finally 
quarrelled with his benefactor and enlisted 
as a private soldier in the U. S. army, but 
remained only a short time. Soon after 
this, in 1833, Poe won several prizes for 
literary work, and as a result secured the 
position of editor of 1»he "Southern Liter- 
ary Messenger," at Richmond, Virginia. 
Here he marrir,d his cousin, Virginia 
Clemm, who clung to him with fond devo- 
tion through all the many trials that came 
to them until her death in Januarj', 1848. 
Poe remained with the "Messenger" for 
several years, writing meanwhile many 
tales, reviews, essays and poems. He aft- 
erward earned a precarious living by his 
pen in New York for a time; in 1839 be- 
came editor of "Burton's Gentleman's 
Magazine" ; in 1840 to 1842 was editor of 
" Graham's Magazine," and drifted around 
Irom one place to another, returning to 
New York in i8aj.. In iSj.=; his best 



known production, "The Raven," appeared 
in the "Whig Review," and gained him a 
reputation which is now almost world-wide. 
He then acted as editor and contributor on 
various magazines and periodicals until the 
death of his faithful wife in 1848. In the 
summer of 1849 he was engaged to be mar- 
ried to a lady of fortune in Richmond, \'ir- 
ginia, and the day set for the wedding. 
He started for New York to make prepara- 
tions for the event, but, it is said, began 
drinking, was attacked with dilirium tre- 
mens in Baltimore and was removed to a 
hospital, where he died, October 7, 1S49. 
The works of Edgar Allen Poe have been 
repeatedly published since his death, both 
in Europe and America, and have attained 
an immense popularitj-. 



HORATIO GATES, one of the prom- 
inent figures in the American war for 
Independence, was not a native of the col- 
onies but was born in England in 1728. In 
early life he entered the British army and 
attained the rank of major. At the capture 
of Martinico he was aide to General Monk- 
ton and after the peace of Aix la Chapelle, 
in 1748, he was among the first troops that 
landed at Halifax. He was with Braddock 
at his defeat in 1755, and was there severe- 
ly wounded. At the conclusion of the 
French and Indian war Gates purchased an 
estate in Virginia, and, resigning from the 
British army, settled down to life as a 
planter. On the breaking out of the Rev- 
olutionary war he entered the service of the 
colonies and was made adjutant-general of 
the Continental forces with the rank oi 
brigadier-general. He accompanied Wash- 
ington when he assumed the command ol 
the army. In June, 1776, he was appoint- 
ed to the command of the army of Canada, 
but was superseded in May of the following 



COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY. 



year by General Schu3'ler. In August, 
1777, however, the command of that army 
was restored to General Gates and Septem- 
ber 19 he fought the battle of Beinis 
Heights. October 7, the same year, he 
won the battle of Stillwater, or Saratoga, 
and October 17 received the surrender of 
General Burgoyne and his army, the pivotal 
poinr. of the war. This gav'S him a brilliant 
reputation. June 13, 17S0. General Gates 
was appointed to the command of the 
sou.hern military division, and August 16 of 
that year suffered defeat at the hands of 
Lord Cornwallis, at Camden, North Car- 
olina. In December following he was 
superseded in the command by General 
Nathaniel Greene. 

On the signing of the peace treaty Gen- 
eral Gates retired to his plantation in 
Berkeley county, Virginia, where he lived 
until 1790, when, emancipating all his 
slaves, he removed to New York City, where 
he resided until his death, April 10, 1806. 



LYMAN J. GAGE.— When President Mc- 
Kinley selected Lyman J. Gage as sec- 
retary of the treasury he chose one of the 
most eminent financiers of the century. Mr. 
Gage was born June 28, 1836, at De Ruy- 
ter, Madison county, New York, and was of 
English descent. He went to Rome, New 
York, with his parents when he was ten 
years old, and received his early education 
in the Rome Academy. Mr. Gage gradu- 
ated from the same, and his first position 
was that of a clerk in the post office. When 
he was fifteen years of age he was detailed 
as mail agent on the Rome & Watertown 
R. R. until the postmaster-general appointed 
regular agents for the route. In 1854, when 
he was in his eighteenth year, he entered 
the Oneida Central Bank at Rome as a 
junior clerk at a salary of one hundred dol- 



lars per year. Being unable at the end of 
one year and a half's service to obtain an 
increase in salary he determined to seek a 
wider field of labor. Mr. Gage set out in 
the fall of 1 85 5 and arrived in Chicago, 
Illinois, on October 3, and soon obtained a 
situation in Nathan Cobb's lumber yard and 
planing mill. Ke remained there three years 
as a bookkeeper, teamster, etc., and left on 
account of change in the management. But 
not being able to find an3'thing else to do he 
accepted the position of night watchman in 
the place for a period of six weeks. He 
then became a bookkeeper for the Mer- 
chants Saving, Loan and Trust Company at 
a salary of five hundred dollars per year. 
Fie rapidlj' advanced in the service of this 
company and in 1868 he was made cashier. 
Mr. Gage was ne.xt offered the position of 
cashier of the First National Bank and ac- 
cepted the offer. He became the president 
of the First National Bank of Chicago Jan- 
uary 24. 1 89 1, and in 1897 he was appointed 
secretary of the treasury. Hi; nbility as a 
financier and the prominent part ne took in 
the discussion of financial aff-*'rs while presi- 
dent of the great Chicago b- _.: ave him a 
national reputation. 



ANDREW JACKSON, the seventh pres- 
ident of the United States, was born 
at the Waxhaw settlement. Union county, 
North Carolina, March 15, 1767. His 
parents were Scotch-Irish, natives of Carr- 
ickfergus, who came to this countr}' in 1665 
and settled on Twelve-Mile creek, a trib- 
utary of the Catawba. His father, who 
was a poor farm laborer, died shortly be- 
fore Andrew's birth, when the mother re- 
moved to Waxhaw, where some relatives 
lived. Andrew's education was very limited, 
he showing no aptitude for study. In 1780 
when but thirteen years of age, he and his 



COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPH7'. 



brother Robert volunteered to serve in the 
American partisan troops under General 
Sumter, and witnessed the defeat at Hang- 
ing Rock. The following year the boys 
were both taken prisoners by the enemy 
and endured brutal treatment from the 
British officers while confined at Camden. 
They both took the small pox, when the 
mother procured their exchange but Robert 
died shortly after. The mother died in 
Charleston of ship fever, the same year. 

Young Jackson, now in destitute cir- 
cumstances, worked for about six months in 
a saddler's shop, and then turned school 
master, although but little fitted for the 
position. He now began to think of a pro- 
fession and at Salisbury, North Carolina, 
entered upon the study of law, but from all 
accounts gave but little attention to his 
books, being one of the most roistering, 
rollicking fellows in that town, indulging in 
many of the vices of his time. In 1786 he 
was admitted to the bar and in 1788 re- 
moved to Nashville, then in North Carolina, 
with the appointment of public prosecutor, 
then an office of little honor or emolument, 
but requiring much nerve, for which young 
Jackson was already noted. Two years 
later, when Tennessee became a territory 
he was appointed by Washington to the 
position of United States attorney for that 
district. In 1791 he married Mrs. Rachel 
Robards, a daughter of Colonel John Don- 
elson, who was supposed at the time to 
have been divorced from her former hus- 
band that year by act of legislature of \"\x- 
ginia, but two years later, on finding that 
this divorce was not legal, and a new bill of 
separation being granted by the courts of 
Kentucky, they were remarried in 1793. 
This was used as a handle by his oppo- 
nents in the political campaign afterwards. 
Jackson was untiring in his efforts as United 



States attorney and obtained much influence. 
He was chosen a member of the Constitu- 
tional Convention of 1796, when Tennessee 
became a state and was its first represent- 
ative in congress. In 1797 he was chosen 
United States senator, but resigned the fol- 
lowing year to accept a seat on the supreme 
court of Tennessee which he held until 
1804. He was elected major-general of 
the militia of that state in 1801. In 1804, 
being unsuccessful in obtaining the govern- 
orship of Louisiana, the new territory, he 
retired from public life to the Hermitage, 
his plantation. On the outbreak of the 
war with Great Britain in 18 12 he tendered 
his services to the government and went to 
New Orleans with the Tennessee troops in 
January, 18 13. In March of that year he 
was ordered to disband his troops, but later 
marched against the Cherokee Indians, de- 
feating them at Talladega, Emuckfaw 
and Tallapoosa. Having now a national 
reputation, he was appointed major-general 
in the United States army and was sent 
against the British in Florida. He con- 
ducted the defence of Mobile and seized 
Pensacola. He then went with his troops 
to New Orleans, Louisiana, where he gained 
the famous victory of January 8, 1815. In 
18 17-18 he conducted a war against the 
Seminoles, and in 1821 was made governor 
of the new territory of Florida. In 1823 
he was elected United States senator, but 
in 1824 Wits the contestant with J. Q. Adams 
for the presidency. Four years later he. 
was elected president, and served two terms. 
In 1832 he took vigorous action against the 
nullifiers of South Carolina, and the next 
year removed the public money from thu 
United States bank. During his second 
term the national debt was extinguished. At 
the close of his administration he retired to 
the Hermitage, where he died June S, 1S45. 



COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY. 



78 



ANDREW CARNEGIE, the largest manu- 
facturer of pig-iron, steel rails and 
coke in the world, well deserves a place 
among America's celebrated men. He was 
born November 25, 1835, at Dunfermline, 
Scotland, and emigrated to the United States 
with his father in 1845, settling in Pittsburg. 
Two years later Mr. Carnegie began his 
business career by attending a small station- 
ary engine. This work did not suit him and 
he became a telegraph messenger with the 
Atlantic and Ohio Co., and later he became 
an operator, and was one of the first to read 
telegraphic signals by sound. Mr. Carnegie 
was afterward sent to the Pittsburg office 
of the Pennsylvania Railroad Co., as clerk 
to the superintendent and manager of the 
telegraph lines. While in this position he 
made the acquaintance of Mr. Woodruff, the 
inventor of the sleeping-car. Mr. Carnegie 
immediately became interested and was one 
of the organizers of the company for its con- 
struction after the railroad had adopted it, 
and the success of this venture gave him the 
nucleus of his wealth. He was promoted 
to the superintendency of the Pittsburg 
division of the Pennsylvania Railroad and 
about this time was one of the syndicate 
that purchased the Storey farm on Oil Creek 
which cost forty thousand dollars and in one 
year it yielded over one million dollars in 
cash dividends. Mr. Carnegie later was as- 
sociated with others in establishing a rolling- 
mill, and from this has grown the most ex- 
tensive and complete system of iron and 
steel industries ever controlled by one indi- 
vidual, embracing the Edgar Thomson 
Steel Works; Pittsburg Bessemer Steel 
Works; Lucy Furnaces; Union Iron Mills; 
Union Mill; Keystone Bridge Works; Hart- 
man Steel Works; Frick Coke Co.; Scotia 
Ore Mines. Besides directing his immense 
iron industries he owned eighteen English 



newspapers which he ran in the interest or 
the Radicals. He has also devoted large 
sums of money to benevolent and educational 
purposes. In 1879 he erected commodious 
swimming baths for the people of Dunferm- 
line, Scotland, and in the following year 
gave forty thousand dollars for a free library. 
}ilr. Carnegie gave fifty thousand dollars to 
Bellevue Hospital Medical College in 1884 
to found what is now called "Carnegie Lab- 
oratory," and in 1885 gave five hundred 
thousand dollars to Pittsburg for a public 
librarj'. He also gave two hundred and fifty 
thousand dollars for a music hall and library 
in Allegheny City in 1886, and two hundred 
and fifty thousand dollars to Edinburgh, Scot- 
land, for a free library. He also established 
free libraries at Braddock, Pennsylvania, 
and other places for the benefit of his em- 
ployes. He also published the following 
works, "An American Four-in-hand in 
Britain;" "Round the World;" "Trium- 
phant Democracy; or Fifty Years' March of 
the Republic." 



GEORGE H. THOMAS, the " Rock of 
Chickamauga," one of the best known 
commanders during the late Civil war, was 
born in Southampton county, Virginia, July 
31, 18 16, his parents being of Welsh and 
French origin respectively. In 18363'oung 
Thomas was appointed a cadet at the Mili- 
tary Academy, at West Point, from which 
he graduated in 1840, and was promoted to 
the office of second lieutenant in the Third 
Artillery. Shortly after, with his company, 
he went to Florida, where he served for two 
years against the Seminole Indians. In 
1 84 1 ho was brevetted first lieutenant for 
gallant conduct. He remained in garrison 
in the south and southwest until 1845, st 
which date with the regiment he joined the 
army under General Taylor, and participat- 



74 



COMPEXDIL'M OF BIOGRAPHT 



ed in the defense of Fort Brown, the storm- 
ing of Monterey and the battle of Buena 
Vista. After the latter eve;it he remained 
in garrison, now brevetted major, until the 
close of the Mexican war. After a year 
spent in Florida, Captain Thomas was or- 
dered to West Point, where he served as in- 
structor until 1854. He then was trans- 
ferred to California. In May, 1S55, Thom- 
as was appointed major of the Second Cav- 
alry, with whom he spent five years in Texas. 
Although a southern man, and surrounded 
by brother officers who all were afterwards 
•n the Confederate service. Major Thomas 
never swerved from his allegiance to the 
government. A. S. Johnston was the col- 
onel of the regiment, R. E. Lee the lieuten- 
ant-colonel, and W. J. Hardee, senior ma- 
jor, while among the younger officers were 
Hood, Fitz Hugh Lee, Van Dorn and Kirby 
Smith. When these officers left the regi- 
ment to take up arms for the Confederate 
cause he remained with it, and April 17th, 
1 86 1, crossed the Potomac into his native 
state, at its head. After taking an active part 
in the opening scenes of the war on the Poto- 
mac and Shenandoah, in August, 1861, he 
was promoted to be brigadier-general and 
transferred to the Army of the Cumberland. 
January 19-20, 1862, Thomas defeated 
Crittenden at Mill Springs, and this brought 
him into notice and laid the foundation of 
his fame. He continued in command of his 
division until September 20, 1862, except 
during the Corinth campaign when he com- 
manded the right wing of the Army of the 
Tennessee. He was in command of the 
latter at the battle of Perryville, also, Octo- 
ber 8, 1862. 

On the division of the Army of the Cum- 
berland into corps, January 9, 1863, Gen- 
eral Thomas was assigned to the command 
of the Fourteenth, and at the battle of Chick- 



amauga, after the retreat of Rosecrans, 
firmly held his own against the hosts of Gen- 
eral Bragg. A history of his services from 
that on would be a history of the war in the 
southwest. On September 27, 1864, Gen- 
eral Thomas was given command in Ten- 
nessee, and after organizing his arm)', de- 
feated General Hood in the battle of Nash- 
ville, December 15 and 16, 1864. Much 
complaint was made before this on account 
of what they termed Thomas' slowness, and 
he was about to be superseded because he 
would not strike until he got ready, but 
when the blow was struck General Grant 
was the first to place on record this vindica- 
tion of Thomas judgment. He received a 
vote of thanks from Congress, and from the 
legislature of Tennessee a gold medal. Af- 
ter the close of the war General Thomas 
had command of several of the military di- 
visions, and died at San Francisco, Cali- 
fornia, March 28, 1870. 



GEORGE BANCROFT, one of the most 
eminent American historians, was a 
nativeof Massachusetts, born at Worcester, 
October 3, 1800, and a son of Aaron 
Bancroft, D. D. The father, A.aron Ban- 
croft, was born at Reading, Massachusetts, 
November 10, 1755. He graduated at 
Harvard in 1778, became a minister, and for 
half a century was rated as one of the ablest 
preachers in New England. He was also a 
prolific writer and published a number of 
works among which was ' ' Life of George 
Washington." Aaron Bancroft died August 
19, 1S39. 

The subject of our present biography, 
George Bancroft, graduated at Harvard in 
18 1 7, and the following year entered the 
University of Gottingen, where he studied 
history and philology under the most emi- 
nent teachers, and in 1820 received the de- 



COMPENDIUM OF BI0GRAPH2'. 



f^ree of doctor of philosophy at Gottingen. 
L'pon his return home he published a volume 
of poems, and later a translation of Heeren's 
" Reflections on the Politics of Ancient 
Greece." In 1834 he produced the first 
volume of his " History of the United 
States," iihis being followed by other vol- 
iimes at different intervals later. This was 
his greatest work and ranks as the highest 
authority, taking its place among the great- 
est of American productions. 

George Bancroft was appointed secretary 
of the navy by President Polk in 1S45, but 
resigned in 1846 and became minister pleni- 
potentiary to England. In 1849 he retired 
from public life and took up his residence at 
Washington, D. C. In 1867 he was ap- 
pointed United States minister to the court of 
Berlin and negotiated the treaty b3nvhich Ger- 
mans coming to the United States were re- 
leased from their allegiance to the govern- 
ment of their native land. In 1871 he was 
minister plenipotentiary to the German em- 
pire and served until 1874. The death of 
George Bancroft occurred January 17, 1891. 



GEORGE GORDON MEADE, a fa- 
mous Union general, Vv-as born at 
Cadiz, Spain, December 30, 181 5, his father 
being United States naval agent at that 
port. After receiving a good education he 
entered the West Point Military Academy 
in 1 83 1. From here he was graduated 
June 30, 1835, and received the rank of 
second lieutenant of artillery. He par- 
ticipated in the Seminole war, but resigned 
from the army in October, 1836. He en- 
tered upon the profession of civil engineer, 
which he followed for several years, part of 
the time in the service of the government in 
making surveys of the mouth of the Missis- 
sippi river. His report and results of some 
experiments m.ade by him in this service 



gained Meade much credit. He alsu was 
employed in surveying the boundary hue of 
Texas and the northeastern boundary line 
between the United States and Cai-ada. 
In 1842 he was reappointed in the arniy to 
the position of second lieutenant of engineers. 
During the Mexican war he served with dis- 
tinction on the staff of General Taylor in 
the battles of Palo Alto, Resaca de la Palma 
and the storming of Monterey. He received 
his brevet of first lieutenant for the latter 
action. In 1S51 he was made full first 
lieutenant in his corps; a captain in 1856, 
and major soon after. At the close of tho 
war with Mexico he was employed in light- 
house construction and in geodetic surveys 
until the breaking out of the Rebellion, in 
which he gained great reputation. In 
August, 1 86 1, he was made brigadier-general 
of volunteers and placed in command of the 
second brigade of the Pennsylvania Reserves, 
a division of the First Corps in the Army of 
the Potomac. In the campaign of 1862, 
under McClellan, Meade took an active 
part, being present at the battles of Mechan- 
icsville, Gaines' Mill and Glendale, in the 
latter of which he was severely wounded. 
On rejoining his command he was given a 
division and distinguished himself at its head 
in the battles of South Mountain and Antie- 
tam. During the latter, on the wounding 
of General Hooker, Meade was placed in 
command of the corps and was himself 
slightly wounded. For services he was 
promoted, November, 1862, to the rank 
of major-general of volunteers. On the 
recovery of General Hooker General Meade 
returned to his division and in December, 
1862, at Fredericksburg, led an attack 
which penetrated Lee's right line and swept 
to his rear. Being outnumbered and un- 
supported, he finally was driven back. The 
same month Meade was assifrned to the 



COMPEXDIUM OF BIOGRAPHT. 



command of the Fifth Corps, and at Chan- 
cellorsville in May, 1863, his sagacity and 
ability so struck General Hooker that when 
the latter asked to be relieved of the com- 
mand, in June of the same year, he nomi- 
nated Meade as his successor. June 28, 
1863, President Lincoln commissioned Gen- 
eral Meade commander-in-chief of the Army 
of the Potomac, then scattered and moving 
hastily through Pennsylvania to the great 
and decisive battlefield at Gettysburg, at 
which he was in full command. With the 
victory on those July days the name of 
Meade will ever be associated. From that 
time until the close of the war he com- 
manded the Army of the Potomac. In 
1864 General Grant, being placed at the 
head of all the armies, took up his quarters 
with the Army of the Potomac. From that 
time until the surrender of Lee at Appo- 
matox Meade's ability shone conspicuously, 
and his tact in the delicate position in lead- 
ing his army under the eye of his superior 
officer commanded the respect and esteem 
of General Grant. For services Meade was 
promoted to the rank of major-general, and 
on the close of hostilities, in July, 1865, 
was assigned to the command of the military 
division of the Atlantic, with headquarters 
at Philadelphia. This post he held, with 
the exception of a short period on detached 
duty in Georgia, until his death, which took 
place November 6, 1872. 



DAVID CROCKETT was a noted hunter 
and scout, and also one of the earliest 
of American humorists. He was born Au- 
gust 17, 1786, in Tennessee, and was one 
of the most prominent men of his locality, 
serving as representative in congress from 
1827 until 1 83 1. He attracted consider- 
able notice while a member of congress and 
was closely associated with General Jack- 



son, of whom he was a personal fiiend. Kc 
went to Texas and enlisted in the Texan 
army at the time of the revolt of Texas 
against Mexico and gained a wide reputa- 
tion as a scout. He was one of the famous 
one hundred and forty men under Colonel 
W. B. Travis who were besieged in Fort 
Alamo, near San Antonio, Texas, by Gen- 
eral Santa Anna with some five thousand 
Mexicans on February 23, 1S36. The fort 
was defended for ten days, frequent assaults 
being repelled with great slaughter, over 
one thousand Mexicans being killed or 
wounded, while not a man in the fort was 
injured. Finally, on March 6, three as- 
saults were made, and in the hand-to-hand 
fight that followed the last, the Texans were 
wofully outnumbered and overpowered. 
They fought desperately with clubbed mus- 
kets till only six were left alive, including 
W. B. Travis, David Crockett and James 
Bowie. These surrendered under promise 
of protection; but when they were brought 
before Santa Anna he ordered them all to 
be cut to pieces. 



HENRY WATTERSON, one of the most 
conspicuous figures in the history of 
American journalism, was born at Wash- 
ington, District of Columbia, February 16, 
1840. His boyhood daj's were mostly spent 
in the city of his birth, where his father, 
Harvey M. Watterson, was editor of the 
"Union," a well known journal. 

Owing to a weakness of the eyes, which 
interfered with a systematic course of study, 
young Watterson was educated almost en- 
tirely at home. A successful college career 
was out of the question, but he acquired a 
good knowledge of music, literature and art 
from private tutors, but the most valuable 
part of the training he received was bv as- 
sociating with his father and the throng or 



COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHT. 



77 



public men whom he met in Washington 
in the stirring daj'S immediate!}' preceding 
the Civil war. He began his journalistic 
career at an early age as dramatic and 
musical critic, and in 1858, became editor 
of the "Democratic Review" and at the 
same time contributed to the "States," 
a journal of liberal opinions published in 
Washington. In this he remained until 
the breaking out of the war, when the 
"States," opposing the administration, was 
suppressed, and young \A'atterson removed 
to Tennessee. He ne.xt appears as editor 
of the Nashville "Republican Banner," the 
most influential paper in the state at that 
time. After the occupation of Nashville by 
the Federal troops, Watterson served as a 
volunteer staff officer in the Confederate 
service until the close of the war, with the 
exception of a year spent in editing the 
Chattanooga "Rebel." On the close of 
the war he returned to Nashville and re- 
sumed his connection with the "Banner." 
After a trip to Europe he assumed control 
of the Louisville "Journal," which he soon 
combined with the "Courier" and the 
"Democrat" of that place, founding the 
well-known "Courier-Journal," the first 
number of which appeared November 8, 
1868. Mr. Watterson also represented his 
district in congress for several years. 



PATRICK SARSFIELD GILMORE, 
one of the most successful and widely 
known bandmasters and musicians of the 
last half century in America, was born in 
Ballygar, Ireland, on Christmas day, 1829. 
He attended a public school until appren- 
ticed to a wholesale merchant at Athlone, 
of the brass band of which town he soon 
became a member. His passion for music 
conflicting with the duties of a mercantile 
life, his position as clerk was exchanged for 



that of musical instructor to the youngr sons 
of his employer. At the age of nineteen he 
sailed for America and two da)'s after his 
arrival in Boston was put in charge of the 
band instrument department of a prominent 
music house. In the interests of the pub- 
lications of this house he organized a minstrel 
company known as "Ordway's Eolians," 
with which he first achieved success as a 
cornet soloist. Later on he was called the 
best E-lfat cornetist in the United States. 
He became leader, successively, of the Suf- 
folk, Boston Brigade and Salem bands. 
During his connection with the latter he 
inaugurated the famous Fourth of July con- 
certs on Boston Common, since adopted as 
a regular programme for the celebration of 
Independence Day. In 1858 Mr. Gilmore 
founded the organization famous thereafter 
as Gilmore's Band. At the outbreak of the 
Civil war this band was attached to the 
Twenty-Fourth .Massachusetts Infantry. 
Later, when the economical policy of dis- 
pensing with music had proved a mistake, 
Gilmore was entrusted with the re-organiza- 
tion of state military bands, and upon his 
arrival at New Orleans with his own band 
was made bandmaster-general by General 
Banks. On the inauguration of Governor 
Hahn, later on, in Lafayette square, New 
Orleans, ten thousand children, mostly of 
Confederate parents, rose to the baton of 
Gilmore and, accompanied by six hundred 
instruments, thirty-six guns and the united 
fire of three regiments of infantry, sang the 
Star-Spangled Banner, America and other 
patriotic Union airs. In June, 1867, Mr. 
Gilmore conceived a national musical festi- 
val, which was denounced as a chimerical 
undertaking, but he succeeded and June 15. 
1869, stepped upon the stage of the Boston 
Colosseum, a vast structure erected for the 
occasion, and in the presence of over fifty 



78 



coMrExniuM of BiOGRArtir 



thousand people lifted his baton over an 
orchestra of one thousand and a chorus of 
ten thousand. On the 17th of June, 1S72, 
he opened a still greater festival in Boston, 
when, in addition to an orchestra of two 
thousand and a chorus of twenty thousand, 
were present the Band of the Grenadier 
Guards, of London, of the Garde Repub- 
licaine, of Paris, of Kaiser Franz, of Berlin, 
and one from Dublin, Ireland, together with 
Johann Strauss, Franz Abt and many other 
soloists, vocal and instrumental. Gilmore's 
death occurred September 24, 1S92. 



MARTIN VAN BUREN was the eighth 
president of the United States, 1837 
to 1 84 1. He was of Dutch extraction, and 
his ancestors were among the earliest set- 
tlers on the banks of the Hudson. He was 
born December 5, 1782, at Kinderhook, 
New York. Mr. \'an Buren took up the 
study of law at the age of fourteen and took 
an active part in political matters before he 
had attained his majority. He commenced 
the practice of law in 1803 at his native 
town, and in 1809 he removed to Hudson, 
Columbia county, New York, where he 
spent seven years gaining strength and wis- 
dom from his contentions at the bar with 
some of the ablest men of the profession. 
Mr. Van Buren was elected to the state 
senate, and from 181 5 until 1819 he was at- 
torney-general of the state. He was re- 
elected to the senate in'iSi6, and in 18 18 
he was one of the famous clique of politi- 
cians known as the "Albany regency." 
Mr. Van Buren was a member of the con- 
vention for the revision of the state consti- 
tution, in 1821. In the same year he was 
elected to the United States senate and 
served his term in a manner that caused his 
re-election to that body in 1827, but re- 
signed the following year as he had been 



elected governor of New York. Mr. Van 
Buren was appointed by President Jackson as 
secretary of state in March, iS29.but resigned 
in I S3 1, and during the recess of congress 
he was appointed minister to England. 
The senate, however, when it convened in 
December refused to ratify the appointment. 
In May, 1832, he was nominated by the 
Democrats as their candidate for vice-presi- 
dent on the ticket with Andrew Jackson, 
and he was elected in the following Novem- 
ber. He received the nomination to suc- 
ceed President Jackson in 1836, as the 
Democratic candidate, and in the electoral 
college he received one hundred and seventy 
votes out of two hundred and eight3'-three, 
and was inaugurated March 4, 1S37. His 
administration was begun at a time of great 
business depression, and unparalled financial 
distress, which caused the suspension of 
specie payments by the banks. Nearly 
every bank in the country was forced to 
suspend specie pa3'ment, and no less than 
two hundred and fifty-four business housas 
failed in New York in one week. The 
President urged the adoption of the inde- 
pendent treasury idea, which passed through 
the senate twice but each time it was de- 
feated in the house. However the measure 
ultimately became a law near the close of 
President Van Buren's term of office. An- 
other important measure that was passed 
was the pre-emption law that gave the act- 
ual settlers preference in the purchase of 
public lands. The question of slavery had 
begun to assume great preponderance dur- 
ing this administration, and a great conflict 
was tided over by the passage of a resolu- 
tion that prohibited petitions or papers tiiat 
in any way related to slavery to be acted 
upon. In the Democratic convention of 
1840 President Van Buren secured the 
nomination for re-election on that ticket 



COMPEXDIUM OF BIOGRAriir. 



without opposition, but in the election he 
only received the votes of seven states, his 
opponent, W. H. Harrison, being elected 
president. In 1848 Mr. Van Buren was 
the candidate of the " Free-Soilers," but 
was unsuccessful. After this he retired 
from public life and spent the remainder of 
his life on his estate at Kinderhook, where 
he died July 24, 1862. 



W INFIELD SCOTT, a distinguished 
American general, was born June 13, 
1786, near Petersburg, Dinwiddle county, 
Virginia, and was educated at the William 
and Mary College. He studied law and was 
admitted to the bar, and in 1S08 he accepted 
an appointment as captain of light artillery, 
and was ordered to New Orleans. In June, 
1812, he was promoted to be lieutenant- 
colonel, and on application was sent to the 
frontier, and reported to General Smyth, 
near Buffalo. He was made adjutant-gen- 
eral with the rank' of a colonel, in March, 
I S 1 3, and the same month attained the colo- 
nelcy of his regiment. He participated in 
the principal battles of the war and was 
wounded many times, and at the close of 
the war he was voted a gold medal by con- 
gress for his services. He was a writer of 
considerable merit on military topics, and 
he gave to the military science, "General 
Regulations of the Army " and " System of 
Infantry and Rifle Practice." He took a 
prominent part in the Black Hawk war, 
and at the beginning of the Mexican war he 
was appointed to take the command of the 
army. Gen. Scott immediately assembled 
his troops at Lobos Island from which he 
moved by transports to Vera Cruz, which 
he took March 29, 1847, and rapidly fol- 
lowed up his first success. He fought the 
l)attles of Cerro Gordo and Jalapa, both of 
which he w«)n, and proceeded to Pueblo 



where he was preceded by Worth's division 
which had taken the town and waited for the 
coming of Scott. The army was forced to 
wait here for supplies, and August 7th, 
General Scott started on his victorious 
march to the city of Mexico with ten thou- 
sand, seven hundred and thirty-eight men. 
The battles of Contreras, Cherubusco and 
San Antonio were fought August 19-20, 
and on the 24th an armistice was agreed 
upon, but as the commissioners could not 
agree on the terms of settlement, the fight- 
ing was renewed at Molino Del Rey, and 
the Heights of Chapultepec were carried 
by the victorious army of General Scott. 
He gave the enemy no respite, however, 
and vigorously followed up his advantages. 
On September 14, he entered the City of 
Mexico and dictated the terms of surrender 
in the very heart of the Mexican Republic. 
General Scott was offered the presidency of 
the Mexican Republic, but declined. Con- 
gress extended him a vote of thanks and 
ordered a gold medal be struck in honor of 
his generalship and bravery. He was can- 
didate for the presidency on the Whig plat- 
form but was defeated. He was honored by 
having the title of lieutenant-general con- 
ferred upon him in 1855. At the beginning of 
the Civil war he was too infirm to take charge 
of the army, but did signal service in be- 
half of the government. He retired from 
the service November i, 1861, and in 1864 
he published his "Autobiography." Gen- 
eral Scott died at West Point, May 29, 1866 



PDWARD EVERETT HALE for manj 
1— < years occupied a high place among the 
most honored of America's citizens. As 
a preacher he ranks among the foremost 
in the New England states, but to the gen- 
eral public he is best known through his 
writings. Born in Boston, Mass., April 3, 



&d 



COMPEXDIUM OF BI0GRAPH2' 



r822, a descendant of one of the most 
prominent New England families, he enjoyed 
in his youth many of the advantages denied 
the majority of boys. He received his pre- 
paratory schooling at the Boston Latin 
School, after which he finished his studies at 
Harvard where he was graduated with high 
honors in 1839. Having studied theology 
at home, Mr. Hale embraced the ministry 
and in 1846 became pastor of a Unitarian 
':hurch in Worcester, Massachusetts, a post 
which he occupied about ten years. He 
then, in 1856, became pastor of the South 
Congregational church in Boston, over which 
he presided many years. 

Mr. Hale also found time to write a 
great many literary works of a high class. 
Among many other well-known productions 
->i his are " The Rosary," " Margaret Per- 
cival in America." "Sketches of Christian 
iistory," "Kansas and Nebraska," " Let- 
,;ers on Irish Emigration," " Ninety Days' 
Worth of Europe," " If, Yes, and Perhaps," 
"Ingham Papers," "Reformation," "Level 
8est and Other Stories, " " Ups and Downs, " 
"Christmas Eve and Christmas Day," " In 
His Name," "Our New Crusade," "Work- 
ingmen's Homes," " Boys' Heroes," etc., 
etc., besides many others which might be 
mentioned. One of his works, "In His 
Name," has earned itself enduring fame by 
the good deeds it has called forth. The 
numerous associations known as ' 'The King's 
Daughters," which has accomplished much 
good, owe their existence to the story men- 
tioned. 

DAVID GLASCOE FARRAGUT stands 
pre-eminent as one of the greatest na- 
val officers of the world. He was born at 
Campbell's Station, East Tennessee, July 
5, 1 80 1, and entered the navy of the United 
States as a midshipman. He had the good 



fortune to serve under Captain David Por- 
ter, who commanded the " Essex," and by 
whom he was taught the ideas of devotion 
to duty from which he never swerved dur- 
ing all his career. In 1823 Mr. Farragut 
took part in a severe fight, the result of 
which was the suppression of piracy in the 
West Indies. He then entered upon the 
regular duties of his profession which was 
only broken into by a year's residence with 
Charles Folsom, our consul at Tunis, who 
was afterwards a distinguished professor at 
Harvard. Mr. Farragut was one of the best 
linguists in the navy. He had risen through 
the different grades of the service until the 
war of 1861-65 found him a captain resid- 
ing at Norfolk, Virginia. He removed with 
his family to Hastings, on the Hudson, and 
hastened to ofter his services to the Federal 
government, and as the capture of New 
Orleans had been resolved upon, Farragut 
was chosen to command the expedition. 
His force consisted of the West Gulf block- 
ading squadron and Porter's mortar flotilla. 
In January, 1862, he hoisted his pennant at 
the mizzen peak of the "Hartford" at 
Hampton roads, set sail from thence on the 
3rd of February and reached Ship Island on 
the 20th of the same month. A council of 
war was held on the 20th of April, in which 
it was decided that whatever was to be done 
must be done quickly. The signal was made 
from the flagship and accordingly the fleet 
weighed anchor at 1:55 on the morning of 
April 24th, and at 3 130 the whole force was 
under way. The history of this brilliant strug- 
gle is well known, and the glory of it made Far- 
ragut a hero and also made him rear admir- 
al. In the summer of 1 862 he ran the batteries 
at Vicksburg, and on March 14. 1863, he 
passed through the fearful and destructive 
fire from Port Hudson, and opened up com- 
munication with Flag-officer Porter, who 



COMPEXDIUM OF BIOGRAPHT. 



83 



had control of the upper Mississippi. On 
May 24th he commenced active operations 
against that fort in conjunction with the army 
and it fell on July 9th. Mr. Farragut filled 
the measure of his fame on the 5th of Au- 
gust, 1S64, by his great victory, the capture 
of Mobile Bay and the destruction of the 
Confederate fleet, including the formidable 
ram Tennessee. For this victory the rank 
of admiral was given to Mr. Farragut. He 
died at Portsmouth, New Hampshire, Au- 
gust 4, 1870. 

GEORGE W. CHILDS, a philanthropist 
whose remarkable personality stood 
for the best and highest type of American 
citizenship, and whose whole life was an 
object lesson in noble living, was born in 
1829 at Baltimore, Maryland, of humble 
parents, and spent his early life in unremit- 
ting toil. He was a self-made man in the 
fullest sense of the word, and gained his 
great wealth by his own efforts. He was a 
man of very great influence, and this, in 
conjunction with his wealth, would have 
been, in the hands of other men, a means of 
getting them political preferment, but Mr. 
Childs steadily declined any suggestions that 
would bring him to figure prominently in 
public affairs. He did not choose to found 
a financial dynasty, but devoted all his 
powers to the helping of others, with the 
most enlightened beneficence and broadest 
sympathy. Mr. Childs once remarked that 
his greatest pleasure in life was in doing 
good to others. He "always despised mean- 
ness, and one of his objects of life was to 
prove that a man could be liberal and suc- 
cessful at the same time. Upon these lines 
Mr. Childs made a name for himself as the 
director of one of the representative news- 
papers of America, "The Philadelphia Pub- 

i:c Ledger," which was owned jointiv by 
5 



himself and the Drexel estate, and which he 
edited for thirty years. He acquired con- 
trol of the paper at a time when it was be- 
ing published at a heavy loss, set it upon a 
firm basis of prosperity, and he made it 
more than a money-making machine — he 
made it respected aSv an exponent of the 
best side of journalism, and it stands as a 
monument to his sound judgment and up- 
right business principles. Mr. Childs' char- 
itable repute brought him many applications 
for assistance, and he never refused to help 
any one that was deserving of aid; and not 
only did he help those who asked, but he 
would by careful inquiry find those who 
needed aid but were too proud to solicit it. 
He was a considerable employer of labor 
and his liberality was almost unparalleled 
The death of this great and good man oc- 
curred February 3d, 1S94. 



PATRICK PIENRY won his way to un- 
dying fame in the annals of the early 
history of the United States by introducing 
into the house of burgesses his famous reso- 
lution against the Stamp Act, which he car- 
ried through, after a stormy debate, by a 
majority of one. At this time he exclaimed 
' ' Caesar had his Brutus, Charles I his Crom- 
well and George HI " (here he was inter- 
rupted by cries of " treason ") " may profit 
by their example. If this be treason make 
the most of it." 

Patrick Henry was born at Studley, 
Hanover county, Virginia, May 29, 1736, 
and was a son of Colonel John Henry, a 
magistrate and school teacher of Aberdeen, 
Scotland, and a nephew of Robertson, the 
historian. He received his education from 
his father, and was married at the age of 
eighteen. He was twice bankrupted before 
he had reached his twenty-fourth year, wnen 
after six weeks of study he was admitted to 



84 



COMPEXDir.^r OF BIOGRAPH7-. 



the bar. He worked for three years with- 
out a case and finally was applauded for his 
plea for the people's rights and gained im- 
mense popularity. After his famous Stamp 
Act resolution he was the leader of the pa- 
triots in Virginia. In 1769 he was admitted 
to practice in the general courts and speed- 
ily won a fortune by his distinguished ability 
as a speaker. He was the first speaker of 
the General Congress at Philadelphia in 
1774. He was for a time a colonel of 
militiain 1775, and from 1776 to 1779 and 
1 78 1 to 1786 he was governor of Virginia. 
For a number of years he retired from pub- 
lic life and was tendered and declined a 
number of important political offices, and in 
March, 17S9, he was elected state senator 
but aid not take his seat on account of his 
death which occurred at Red Hill, Charlotte 
county, Virginia, June 6, 1799. 



BENEDICT ARNOLD, an American 
general and traitor of the Revolution- 
ary war, is one of the noted characters in 
American history. He was born in Nor- 
wich, Connecticut, January 3, 1740. He 
ran away and enlisted in the army when 
young, but deserted in a short time. He 
then became a merchant at New Haven, 
Connecticut, but failed. In 1775 he was 
commissioned colonel in the Massachusetts 
militia, and in the autumn of that year was 
placed in command of one thousand men 
for the invasion of Canada. He marched 
his army through the forests of Maine and 
joined General Montgomery before Quebec. 
Their combined forces attacked that city on 
December 31, 177S, and Montgomery was 
killed, and Arnold, severely wounded, was 
compelled to retreat and endure a rigorous 
winter a few miles from the city, where they 
were at the mercy of the Canadian troops 
had they cared to attack them. On his re- 



turn he was raised to the rank of brigadier- 
general. He was given command of a small 
flotilla on Lake Champlain, with which he 
encountered an immense force, and though 
defeated, performed many deeds of valor. 
He resented the action of congress in pro- 
moting a number of his fellow officers and 
neglecting himself. In 1777 he was made 
major-general, and under General Gates at 
Bemis Heights fought valiantly. For some 
reason General Gates found fault with his 
conduct and ordered him under arrest, and 
he was kept in his tent until the battle of 
Stillwater was waxing hot, when Arnold 
mounted his horse and rode to the front of 
his old troop, gave command to charge, and 
rode like a mad man into the thickest of 
the fight and was not overtaken by Gates' 
courier until he had routed the enemy and 
fell wounded. Upon his recovery he was 
made general, and was placed in command 
at Philadelphia. Here he married, and his 
acts of rapacity soon resulted in a court- 
martial. He was sentenced to be repri- 
manded by the commander-in-chief, and 
though Washington performed this duty 
with utmost delicacy and- consideration, it 
was never forgiven. Arnold obtained com- 
mand at West Point, the most important 
post held by the Americans, in 1780, and 
immediately offered to surrender it to Sir 
Henry Clinton, British commandsr at New 
York. Major Andre was sent to arrange 
details with Arnold, but on his return trip 
to New York he was captured by Americans, 
the plot was detected, and Andre suffered 
the death penalty as a spy. Arnold es- 
caped, and was paid about $40,000 by the 
British for his treason and was made briga- 
dier-general. He afterward commanded an 
expedition that plundered a portion of Vir- 
ginia, and another that burned New Lon- 
don, Connecticut, and captured Fort Trum- 



COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPUr 



85 



bull, the commandant of which Arnold mur- 
dered with the sword he had just surren- 
dered. He passed the latter part of his life 
ill England, universally despised, and died 
in London June 14, iSoi. 



ROBERT G. INGERSOLL, one of the 
most brilliant orators that America has 
produced, also a lawyer of considerable 
merit, won most of his fame as a lecturer. 
Mr. Ingersoll was born Auf;ust 24, 1S33, 
at Dryden, Gates county. New York, and 
recei\ed his education in the common schools. 
He went west at the age of twelve, and for 
a short time he attended an academy in 
Tennessee, and also taught school in that 
state. He began the practice of law in the 
southern part of Illinois in 1854. Colonel 
Ingcrsoll's principal fame was made in 
the lecture room by his lectures in which he 
ridiculed religious faith and creeds and criti- 
cised the Bible and the Christian religion. 
He was the orator of the day in the Decora- 
tion Day celebration in the city of New York 
in 1882 and his oration was widely com- 
mended. He first attracted political notice 
in the convention at Cincinnati in 1876 by 
his brilliant eulogy on James G. Blaine. He 
practiced law in Peoria, Illinois, for a num- 
ber of years, but later located in the city of 
New York. He published the follow- 
ing: "The Gods and other Lectures;" "The 
Ghosts;" "Some Mistakes of Moses;" 
"What Shall I Do To Be Saved;" "Inter- 
views on Talmage and Presbyterian Cate- 
chism ;" The " North .American Review 
Controversy;" "Prose Poems;" " A Vision 
of War;" etc. 



JOSEPH ECCLESTON JOHNSTON, 
<J a noted general in the Confederate army, 
was born in Prince Edward county. Virginia, 
in 1S07. He graduated from West Point 



and entered the army in 1829. For a num- 
ber of years his chief service was garrison 
duty. He saw active service, however, in 
the Seminole war in Florida, part of the 
time as a staff officer of General Scott. He 
resigned his commission in 1837, but re- 
turned to the army a year later, and was 
brevetted captain for gallant services in 
Florida. He was rriade first lieutenant of 
topographical engineers, and was engaged 
in river and harbor improvements and also 
in the survey of the Texas boundary and 
the northern boundary of the United 
States until the beginning of the war 
with Mexico. He was at the siege of Vera 
Cruz, and at the battle of Cerro Gordo was 
wounded while reconnoitering the enemy's 
position, after which he was brevetted major 
and colonel. He was in all the battles about 
the city of Mexico, and was again wounded 
in the final assault upon that city. After 
the Mexican war closed he returned to duty 
as captain of topographical engineers, but 
in 1855 he was made lieutenant-colonel of 
cavalry and did frontier dut}', and was ap- 
pointed inspector-general of the expedition 
to Utah. In i860 he was appointed quar- 
termaster-general with rank of brigadier- 
general. At the outbreak of hostilities in 
1 86 1 he resigned his commission and re- 
ceived the appointment of major-general of 
the Confederate army. He held Harper's 
Ferry, and later fought General Patterson 
about Winchester. At the battle of Bull 
Run he declined command in favor of Beau- 
regard, and acted under that general's direc- 
tions. He commanded the Confederates in 
the famous Peninsular campaign, and was 
severely wounded at Fair Oaks and was 
succeeded in command by General Lee. 
Upon his recovery he was made lieutenant- 
general and assigned to the command of the 
southwestern department. He attempted 



86 



COMPENDIUM' OF BIOGRAPHl'. 



to raise the siege of Vicksburg, and was 
finally defeated at Jackson, Mississippi. 
Having been made a general he succeeded 
General Bragg in command of the army of 
Tennessee and was ordered to check General 
Sherman's advance upon Atlanta. Not 
daring to risk a battle with the overwhelm- 
ing forces of Sherman, he slowly retreated 
toward Atlanta, and was relieved of com- 
mand by President Davis and succeeded by 
General Hood. Hood utterly destroyed his 
own army by three furious attacks upon 
Sherman. Johnston was restored to com- 
mand in the Carolinas, and again faced 
Sherman, but was defeated in several en- 
gagements and continued a slow retreat 
toward Richmond. Hearing of Lee's sur- 
render, he communicated with General 
Sherman, and finally surrendered his army 
at Durham, North Carolina, April 26, 1865. 
General Johnston was elected a member 
of the forty-sixth congress and was ap- 
pointed United States railroad commis- 
sioner in 1885. His death occurred March 
21, 1891. 

SAMUEL LANGHORNE CLEMENS, 
known throughout the civilized world 
as "Mark Twain," is recognized as one of 
the greatest humorists America has pro- 
duced. He was born in Monroe county, 
Missouri, November 30, 1835. Hespenthis 
boyhood days in his native state and many 
of his earlier experiences are related in vari- 
ous forms in his later writings. One of his 
early acquaintances, Capt. Isaiah Sellers, 
at an early day furnished river news for the 
New Orleans " Picayune ," using the noin- 
dc-pluvie of "Mark Twain." Sellers died 
in 1863 and Clemens took up his nom-de- 
pluine and made it famous throughout the 
world by his literary work. In 1862 Mr. 
Clemens became a journalist at \'irginia. 



Nevada, and afterward followed the same pro- 
fession at San Francisco and Buffalo, New 
York. He accumulated a fortune from the 
sale of his many publications, but in later 
years engaged in business enterprises, partic- 
ularly the manufacture of a typesetting ma- 
chine, which dissipated his fortune and re- 
duced him almost to poverty, but with resolute 
heart he at once again took up his pen and 
engaged in literary work in the effort to 
regain his lost ground. Among the best 
known of his works may be mentioned the fol- 
lowing: ' ' The Jumping Frog, " ' ' Tom Saw- 
3'er," " Roughingit," " Innocents Abroad," 
"Huckleberry Finn," "Gilded Age," 
"Prince and Pauper," "Million Pound 
Bank Note," "A Yankee in King Arthur's 
Court," etc. 

CHRISTOPHER CARSON, better 
known as "Kit Carson;" was an Amer- 
ican trapper and scout who gained a wide 
reputation for his frontier work. He was a 
native of Kentucky, born December 24th, 
1S09. He grew to manhood there, devel- 
oping a natural inclination for adventure in 
the pioneer experiences in his native state. 
When yet a young man he became quite 
well known on the frontier. He served as 
a guide to Gen. Fremont in his Rocky 
Mountain explorations and enlisted in the 
army. He was an officer in the United 
States service in both the Mexican war and 
the great Civil war, and in the latter received 
a brevet of brigadier-general for meritorious 
service. His death occurred May 23, 
1868. 

JOHN SHERMAN.— Statesman, politi- 
cian, cabinet officer and senator, the name 
of the gentleman who heads this sketch is al- 
most a household word throughout this 
country. Identified with some of the most 



COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY. 



87 



important measures adopted by our Govern- 
ment since the close of the Civil war, he may 
well be called one of the leading men of his 
day. 

John Sherman was born at Lancaster, 
Fairfield county, Ohio, May loth, 1S23, 
the son of Charles R. Sherman, an emi- 
nent lawyer and judge of the supreme court 
of Ohio and who died in 1S29. The subject 
of this article received an academic educa- 
tion and was admitted to the bar in 1S44. 
In the Whig conventions of 1844 and 1848 
he sat as a delegate. He was a member of 
the National house of representatives, 
from 1855 to 1 86 1. In i860 he was re- 
elected to the same position but was chosen 
United States senator before he took his 
seat in the lower house. He was re-elected 
senator in 1866 and 1872 and was long 
chairman of the committee on finance and 
on agriculture. He took a prominent part 
in debates on finance and on the conduct of 
the war, and was one of the authors of the 
reconstruction measures in 1866 and 1867, 
and was appointed secretary of the treas- 
ury March 7th, 1877. 

Mr. Sherman was re-elected United States 
senator from Ohio January i8th, 1S81, and 
again in 1886 and 1892, during which time 
he was regarded as one of the most promi- 
nent leaders of the Republican party, both 
in the senate and in the country. He was 
several times the favorite of his state for the 
nomination for president. 

On the formation of his cabinet in March, 
1897, President McKinley tendered the posi- 
tion of secretary of state to Mr. Sherman, 
which was accepted. 



WILLIAM HENRY HARRISON, ninth 
president of the United States, was 
born in Charles county, Virginia, February 
9, 1773, the son of Governor Benjamin 



Harrison. He took a course in Hampden- 
Sidney College with a view to the practice 
of medicine, and then went to Philadelphia 
to study under Dr. Rush, but in 1791 he 
entered the army, and obtained the commis- 
sion of ensign, was soon promoted to the 
lieutenancy, and was with General Wayne 
in his war against the Indians. For his 
valuable service he was promoted to the 
rank of captain and given command of Fort 
Washington, now Cincinnati. He was ap- 
pointed secretary of the Northwest Territory 
in 1797, and in 1799 became its representa- 
tive in congress. In 1801 he was appointed 
governor of Indiana Territory, and held the 
position for twelve years, during which time 
he negotiated important treaties with the In- 
dians, causing them to relinquish millions of 
acres of land, and also won the battle of 
Tippecanoe in 181 1. He succeeded in 
obtaining a change in the law which did not 
permit purchase of public lands in less tracts 
than four thousand acres, reducing the limit 
to three hundred and twertty acres. He 
became major-general of Kentucky militia 
and brigadier-general in the United States 
army in 18 12, and won great renown in 
the defense of Fort Meigs, and his victory 
over the British and Indians under Proctor 
and Tecumseh at the Thames river, October 

5, 1813- 

In 1 8 16 General Harrison was elected to 
congress from Ohio, and during the canvass 
was accused of corrupt methods in regard to 
the commissariat of the army. He demanded 
an investigation after the election and was 
exonerated. In 18 19 he was elected to 
the Ohio state senate, and in 1824 he gave 
his vote as a presidential elector to Henry 
Clay. He became a member of the United 
States senate the same year. During the 
last year of Adams' administration he was 
sent as minister to Colombia, but was re- 



88 



COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHl'. 



called by President Jackson the following 
year. He then retired to his estate at North 
Bend, Ohio, a few miles below Cincinnati. In 
1836 he was a candidate for the presidency, 
but as there were three other candidates 
the votes were divided, he receiving seventy- 
three electoral votes, a majority going to 
Mr. Van Buren, the Democratic candidate. 
Four years later General Harrison was again 
nominated by the Whigs, and elected by a 
tremendous majority. The campaign was 
noted for its novel features, many of which 
have found a permanent place in subsequent 
campaigns. Those peculiar to that cam- 
paign, however, were the " log-cabin " and 
" hard cider" watchwords, which produced 
great enthusiasm among his followers. One 
month after his inauguration he died from 
an attack of pleurisy, April 4, 1841. 



CHARLES A. DANA, the well-known 
and widely-read journalist of New York 
City, a native of Hinsdale, New Hampshire, 
was born August 8, 18 19. He received 
the elements of a good education in his 
youth and studied for two years at Harvard 
University. Owing to some disease of the 
eyes he was unable to complete his course 
and graduate, but was granted the degree of 
A. M. notwithstanding. For some time he 
was editor of the " Harbinger," and was a 
regular contributor to the Boston " Chrono- 
type." In 1847 he became connected with 
the New York " Tribune, " and continued on 
the staff of that journal until 1858. In the 
latter year he edited and compiled "The 
Household Book of Poetry," and later, in 
connection with George Ripley, edited the 
"New American Cyclopa;dia. " 

Mr. Dana, on severing his connection 
with the "Tribune" in 1867, became editor 
of the New York "Sun," a paper with 
which he was identified for many years, and 



which he made one of the leaders of thought 
in the eastern part of the United States. 
He wielded a forceful pen and fearlessly 
attacked whatever was corrupt and unworthy 
in politics, state or national. The same 
year, 1867, Mr. Dana organized the New 
York " Sun " Company. 

During the troublous days of the war, 
when the fate of the Nation depended upon 
the armies in the field, Mr. Dana accepted 
the arduous and responsible position of 
assistant secretary of war, and held the 
position during the greater part of 1S63 
and 1864. He died October 17, 1S97. 



ASA GRAY was recognized throughout the 
scientific world as one of the ablest 
and most eminent of botanists. He was 
born at Paris, Oneida county. New York, 
November 18, 1810. He received his medi- 
cal degree at the Fairfield College of Physi- 
cians and Surgeons, in Herkimer county^ 
New York, and studied botany with the late 
Professor Torrey, of New York. He was 
appointed botanist to the Wilkes expedition 
in 1834, but declined the offer and became 
professor of natural history in Harvard Uni- 
versity in 1842. He retired from the active 
duties of this post in 1873, and in 1874 he 
was the regent of the Smithsonian Institu- 
tion at Washington, District of Columbia. 
Dr. Gray wrote several books on the sub- 
ject of the many sciences of which he was 
master. In 1836 he published his "Ele- 
ments of Botany," " Manual of Botany" in 
1848; the unfinished "Flora of North 
America," by himself and Dr. Torrey, the 
publication of which commenced in 183S. 
There is another of his unfinished works 
called "Genera Boreali-Americana, " pub- 
lished in 1848, and the "Botany of the 
United States Pacific Exploring Expedition 
in I 8 54." He wrote many elaborate papers 



COMPENDIUM OF BI0GRAPH2'. 



89 



on the botany of the west and southwest 
that were published in the Smithsonian Con- 
tributions, Memoirs, etc., of the American 
Academy of Arts and Sciences, of which in- 
stitution he was preside'nt for ten years. 
He was also the author of many of the 
government reports. "How Plants Grow, " 
" Lessons in Botany," " Structural and Sys- 
tematic Botany," are also works from his 
ready pen. 

Dr. Gray published in iS6i his "Free 
Examination of Darwin's Treatise "and his 
" Darwiniana," in 1876. Mr. Gray was 
elected July 29, 1878, to a membership in 
the Institute of France, Academy of Sciences. 
His death occurred at Cambridge, Massa- 
chusetts, January 30, 1889. 



WILLIAM MAXWELL EVARTS was 
one of the greatest leaders of the 
American bar. He was born in Boston, 
Massachusetts, February 6, 1818, and grad- 
uated from Yale College in 1837. He took 
up the study of law, which he practiced in 
the city of New York and won great renown 
as an orator and advocate. He affiliated 
with the Republican party, which he joined 
soon after its organization. He was the 
leading counsel employed for the defense of 
President Johnson in his trial for impeach- 
iTient before the senate in April and May of 
1868. 

In July, 1868, Mr. Evarts was appointed 
attorney-general of the United States, and 
served until March 4, 1S69. He was one 
of the three lawyers who were selected by 
President Grant in 1871 to defend the inter- 
ests of the citizens of the United States be- 
fore the tribunal of arbitration which met 
at Geneva in Switzerland to settle the con- 
troversy over the " Alabama Claims." 

He was one of the most eloquent advo- 
cates in the United States, and many of his 



public addresses have been preserved and 
published. He was appointed secretary of 
state March 7, 1877, by President Hayes, 
and served during the Hayes administration. 
He was elected senator from the state of 
New York January 21, 1885, and at once 
took rank among the ablest statesmen in 
Congress, and the prominent part he took 
in the discussion of public questions gave 
him a national reputation. 



JOHN WANAMAKER.— The life of this 
<J great merchant demonstrates the fact 
that the great secret of rising from the ranks 
is, to-day, as in the past ages, not so much the 
ability to make money, as to save it, or in 
other words, the ability to live well within 
one's income. Mr. Wanamaker was born in 
Philadelphia in 1838. He started out in 
life working in a brickyard for a mere pit- 
tance, and left that position to work in a 
book store as a clerk, where he earned 
the sum of $5.00 per month, and later on 
was in the employ of a clothier where he 
received twenty-five cents a week more. 
He was only fifteen years of age at that 
time, but was a " monej'-getter " by instinct, 
and laid by a small sum for a possible rainy 
day. By strict attention to business, com- 
bined with natural ability, he was promoted 
many times, and at the age of twenty he 
had saved $2,000. After several months 
vacation in the south, he returned to Phila- 
delphia and became a master brick mason, 
but this was too tiresome to the young man, 
and he opened up the " Oak Hall " clothing 
store in April, 1861, at Philadelphia. The 
capital of the firm was rather limited, but 
finally, after many discouragements, they 
laid the foundations of one of the largest 
business houses in the world. The estab- 
lishment covers at the present writing some 
fourteen acres of floor space, and furnishes 



90 



COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHT. 



employment for five thousand persons. Mr. 
Wanamaker was also a great church worker, 
and built a church that cost him $60,000, 
and he was superintendent of the Sunday- 
school, which had a membership of over 
three thousand children. He steadily re- 
fused to run for mayor or congress and the 
only public office that he ever held was that 
of postmaster-general, under the Harrison 
administration, and here he exhibited his 
extraordinary aptitude for comprehending 
the details of public business. 



D.-VVID BENNETT HILL, a Demo- 
cratic politician who gained a na- 
tional reputation, was born August 29, 
1S43, at Havana, New York. He was 
educated at the academy of his native town, 
and removed to Elmira, New York, in 1862, 
where he studied law. He was admitted to 
the bar in 1864, in which year he was ap- 
pointed city attorney. Mr. Hill soon gained 
a considerable practice, becoming prominent 
in his profession. He developed a taste for 
politics in which he began to take an active 
part in the different campaigns and became 
the recognized leader of the local Democ- 
racy. In 1870 he was elected a member of 
the assembly and was re-elected in 1872. 
While a member of this assembly he formed 
the acquaintance of Samuel J. Tilden, after- 
ward governor of the state, who appointed 
Mr. Hill, W. M. Evarts and Judge Hand 
as a committee to provide a uniform charter 
for the different cities of the state. The 
pressure of professional engagements com- 
pelled him to decline to serve. In 1877 
Mr. Hill was made chairman of the Demo- 
cratic state convention at Albany, his elec- 
tion being due to the Tilden wing of the 
party, and he held the same position again 
in 1 88 1. He served one term as alderman 
in Elmira, at the expiration of which term, 



in 1882, he was elected mayor of Elmira, 
and in September of the same year was 
nominated for lieutenant-governor on the 
Democratic state ticket. He was success- 
ful in the campaign and two years later, 
when Grover Cleveland was elected to the 
presidency, Mr. Hill succeeded to the gov- 
ernorship for the unexpired term. In 1885 
he was elected governor for a full term of 
three years, at the end of which he was re- 
elected, his term expiring in 1891, in which 
year he was elected United States senator. 
In the senate he became a conspicuous 
figure and gained a national reputation. 



ALLEN G. THURMAN.—" The noblest 
Roman of them all " was the title by 
which Mr. Thurman was called by his com- 
patriots of the Democracy. He was the 
greatest leader of the Democratic part}' in 
his day and held the esteem of all the 
people, regardless of their political creeds. 
Mr. Thurman was born November 13, 18 13, 
at Lynchburg, Virginia, where he remained 
until he had attained the age of six years, 
when he moved to Ohio. He received an 
academic education and after graduating, 
took up the study of law, was admitted to 
the bar in 1S35, and achieved a brilliant 
success in that line. In political life he was 
very successful, and his first office was that 
of representative of the state of Ohio in the 
twenty-ninth congress. He was elected 
judge of the supreme court of Ohio in 1851, 
and was chief justice of the same from 1854 
to 1856. In 1867 he was the choice of the 
Democratic party of his state for governor, 
and was elected to the United States senate 
in 1869 to succeed Benjamin F. Wade, 
and was re-elected to the same position in 
1S74. He was a prominent figure in th(; 
senate, until the expiration of his service ii 
1 88 1. Mr. Thurman was also one of the 



COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY. 



91 



principal presidental possibilities in the 
Democratic convention held at St. Louis in 
1876. In 1888 he was the Democratic 
nominee for vice-president on the ticket 
with Grover Cleveland, but was defeated. 
Allen Cranberry Thurman died December 
12, 1895, ^t Columbus, Ohio. 



CHARLES FARRAR BROWNE, better 
known as " Artemus Ward," was born 
April 26, 1834, in the village of Waterford, 
Maine. He was thirteen years old at the 
time of his father's death, and about a year 
later he was apprenticed to John M. Rix, 
who published the "Coos County Dem- 
ocrat " at Lancaster, New Hampshire. Mr. 
Browne remained with him one year, when, 
hearing that his brother Cyrus was starting 
a paper at Norway, Maine, he left Mr. Rix 
and determined to get work on the new 
paper. He worked for his brother until the 
failure of the newspaper, and then went to 
Augusta, Maine, where he remained a fev/ 
weeks and then removed to Skowhegan, 
and secured a position on the "Clarion." 
But either the climate or the work was not 
satisfactory to him, for one night he silently 
left the town and astonished his good mother 
by appearing unexpectedly at home. Mr. 
Browne then received some letters of recom- 
mendation to Messrs. Snow and Wilder, of 
Boston, at whose office Mrs. Partington's 
(B. P. Shillaber) ' ' Carpet Bag " was printed, 
and he was engaged and remained there for 
three years. He then traveled westward in 
search of employment and got as far as Tif- 
fin, Ohio, where he found employment in the 
office of the "Advertiser," and remained 
there some months when he proceeded to 
Toledo, Ohio, where he became one of the 
staff of the "Commercial," which position 
he held until 1057. Mr. Browne next went 
10 Cleveiand, Ohio, anc became the local 



editor of the "Plain Dealer," and it was m 
the columns of this paper that he published 
his first articles and signed them "Artemus 
Ward." In i860 he went to New York and 
became the editor of " Vanity Fair," but 
the idea of lecturing here seized him, and he 
was fully determined to make the trial. 
Mr. Browne brought out his lecture, "Babes 
in the Woods " at Clinton Hall, December 
23, 1861, and in 1862 he published his first 
book entitled, "Artemus Ward; His Book." 
He attained great fame as a lecturer and his 
lectures were not confined to America, for 
he went to England in 1866, and became 
exceedingly popular, both as a lecturer and 
a contributor to "Punch." Mr. Browne 
lectured for the last time January 23, 1867. 
He died in Southampton, England, March 
6, 1867. 

THURLOW WEED, a noted journalist 
and politician, was born in Cairo, New 
York, November 15, 1797. He learned the: 
printer's trade at the age of twelve years, 
and worked at this calling for several years 
in various villages in centra! New York. He 
served as quartermaster-sergeant during the 
warofi8i2. In 18 18 he established the 
"Agriculturist," at Norwich, New York, 
and became editor of the "Anti-Masonic 
Enquirer," at Rochester, in 1826. In the 
same year he was elected to the legislature 
and re-elected in 1830, when he located in 
Albany, New York, and there started the 
' • Evening Journal, " and conducted it in op- 
position to the Jackson administration and 
the nullification doctrines of Calhoun. He 
became an adroit party manager, and was 
instrumental in promoting the nominations 
of Harrison, Taylor and Scott for the pres- 
idency. In 1856 and in i86c) he threw his 
support to W. H. Seward, but when defeat- 
ed in his object, he gave cordial support to 



COMPENDIUM OF BJOGRAPHY. 



Fremont and Lincoln. Mr. Lincoln pre- 
verled upon him to visit the various capitals 
of Europe, where he proved a valuable aid 
to the administration in moulding the opin- 
ions of the statesmen of that continent 
favorable to the cause of the Union. 

Mr. Weed's connection with the " Even- 
ing Journal " was severed in 1862, when he 
settled in New York, and for a time edited 
the "Commercial Advertiser." In 1868 he 
retired from active life. His " Letters from 
Europe and the West Indies," published in 
1866, together with some interesting " Rem- 
iniscences," published in the "Atlantic 
Monthly," in 1870, an autobiography, and 
portions of an extensive correspondence will 
be of great value to writers of the political 
history of the United States. Mr. Weed 
died in New York, November 22, 1882. 



WILLIAM COLLINS WHITNEY, 
one of the prominent Democratic 
politicians of the country and ex-secretary of 
the navy, was born July 5th, 1841, at Con- 
way, Massachusetts, and received his edu- 
cation at Williston Seminary, East Hamp- 
ton, Massachusetts, Later he attended 
Yale College, where he graduated in 1863, 
and entered the Harvard Law School, which 
he left in 1864. Beginning practice in New 
York city, he soon gained a reputation as 
an able lawyer. He made his first appear- 
ance in public affairs in 1871, when he was 
active in organizing a j'oung men's Demo- 
cratic club. In 1872 he was the recognized 
leader of the county Democracy and in 1875 
was appointed corporation counsel for the 
city of New York. He resigned the office, 
1882, to attend to personal interests and on 
March 5, 1885, he was appointed secretary 
of the navy by President Cleveland. Under 
his administration the navy of the United 
States rapidly rose in rank among the navies 



of the world. When he retired from office 
in 1889, the vessels of the United States 
navy designed and contracted for by hini 
were five double-turreted monitors, two 
new armor-clads, the dynamite cruiser "Ve- 
suvius," and five unarmored steel and iron 
cruisers. 

Mr. Whitney was the leader of the 
Cleveland forces in the national Democratic 
convention of 1892. 



EDWIN FORREST, the first and great- 
est American tragedian, was born in 
Philadelphia in 1806. His father was a 
tradesman, and some accounts state that he 
had marked out a mercantile career for his 
son, Edwin, while others claim that he had 
intended him for the ministry. His wonder- 
ful memory, his powers of mimicry and his 
strong musical voice, however, attracted at- 
tention before he was eleven years old, and 
at that age he made his first appearance on 
the stage. The costume in which he appeared 
was so ridiculous that he left the stage in a 
fit of anger amid a roar of laughter from 
the audience. This did not discourage him, 
however, and at the age of fourteen, after 
some preliminary training in elocution, he 
appeared again, this time as Young Norvel, 
and gave indications of future greatness. 
Up to 1826 he played entirely with strolling 
companies through the south and west, but 
at that time he obtained an engagement at 
the Bowery Theater in New York. From 
that time his fortune was made. His man- 
ager paid him $40 per night, and it is stated 
that he loaned Forrest to other houses from 
time to time at $200 per night. His great 
successes were Virginius, Damon, Othello. 
Coriolanus, William Tell, Spartacus and 
Lear. He made his first appearance in 
London in 1836, and his success was un- 
questioned from the start. In 1845, on his 



COMPENDIUM OF B/OGRAPHT. 



93 



second appearance in London, he became 
involved in a bitter rivalry with the great 
English actor, Macready, who had visited 
America two years before. The result was 
that Forrest was hissed from the stage, and 
it was charged that Macready had instigated 
the plot. Forrest's resentment was so bitter 
that he himself openly hissed Macready 
from his box a few nights later. In 1848 
Macready again visited America at a time 
when American admiration and enthusiasm 
for Forrest had reached its height. Macready 
undertook to play at Astor Place Opera 
House in May, 1849, but was hooted off the 
stage. A few nights later Macready made a 
second attempt to play at the same house, 
this time under police protection. The house 
was filled with Macready 's friends, but the vio- 
olence of the mob outside stopped the play, 
and the actor barely escaped with his life. 
Upon reading the riot act the police and 
troops were assaulted with stones. The 
troops replied, first with blank cartridges, 
and then a volley of lead dispersed the 
mob, leaving thirty men dead or seriously 
wounded. 

After this incident Forrest's popularity 
waned, until in 1855 he retired from the 
stage. He re-appeared in i860, however, 
and probably the most remunerative period 
of his life was between that date and the 
close of the Civil war. His last appeaiance 
on the stage was at the Globe Theatre, 
Boston, in Richelieu, in April, 1872, his 
death occurring December 12 of that year. 



NOAH PORTER, D. D., LL. D., was 
one of the most noted educators, au- 
thors and scientific writers of the United 
States. He was born December 14, 181 1, 
at Farmington, Connecticut, graduated at 
Yale College in 1831, and was master of 
Hopkins Grammar School at New Haven in 



'831-33- During 1833-35 he was a tutor 
at Yale, and at the same time was pursuing 
his theological studies, and became pastor 
of the Congregational church at New Mil- 
ford, Connecticut, in April, 1836. Dr. 
Porter removed to Springfield, Massachu- 
setts, in 1843, and was chosen professor of 
metaphysics and moral philosophy at Yale 
in 1846. He spent a year in Germany in 
the study of modern metaphysics in 1853— 
54, and in 1871 he was elected president of 
Yale College. He resigned the presidency 
in 1885, but still remained professor of met- 
aphysics and moral philosophy. He was 
the author of a number of works, among 
which are the following: "Historical Es 
say," written in commemorationof the 200th 
aniversary of the settlement of the town of 
Farmington; " Educational System of the 
Jesuits Compared;" "The Human Intel- 
lect," with an introduction upon psychology 
and the soul; " Books and Reading;" 
"American Colleges and the American Pub- 
lic;" " Elementsof Intellectual Philosophy;" 
" The Science of Nature versus the Science 
of Man;" "Science and Sentiment;" "Ele- 
ments of Moral Science." Dr. Porter was 
the principal editor of the revised edition of 
Webster's Dictionary in 1864, and con- 
tributed largely to religious reviews and 
periodicals. Dr. Porter's death occurred 
March 4, 1892, at New Haven, Connecticut. 



JOHN TYLER, tenth president of the 
^J United States, was born in Charles City 
county, Virginia, March 29, 1790, and was 
the son of Judge John Tyler, one of the 
most distinguished men of his day. 

When but twelve years of age young 
John Tyler entered William and Mary Col- 
lege, graduating from there in 1806. He 
took up the study of law and was admitted 
to the bar in 1809, when but nineteen years 



94 



COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY. 



of age. On attaining his majority in 1811 
he was elected a member of the state legis- 
lature, and for five years held that position 
by the almost unanimous vote of his county. 
He was elected to congress in 18 16, and 
served in that body (or four years, after 
•which for two years he represented his dis- 
trict again in the legislature of the state. 
While in congress, he opposed the United 
States bank, the protective policy and in- 
ternal improvements by the United States 
government. 1825 saw Mr. Tyler governor 
of Virginia, but in 1827 he was chosen 
membei of the United States senate, and 
held that office for nine years. He therein 
opposed the administration of Adams and 
the tariff bill of 1828, sympathized with the 
nullif'ers of South Carolina and was the 
only senator who voted against the Force 
bill lor the suppression of that state's insip- 
ient rebellion. He resigned his position as 
senator on account of a disagreement with 
the legislature of his state in relation to his 
censuring President Jackson. He retired to 
Williamsburg, Virginia, but being regarded 
as a martyr by the Whigs, whom, hereto- 
fore, he had always opposed, was supported 
by many of that party for the vice-presi- 
dency in 1836. He sat in the Virginia leg- 
islature as a Whig in 1839-40, and was a 
delf>gate to the convention of that party in 
i8;-9. This national convention nominated 
him for the second place on the ticket with 
General William H. H. Harrison, and he 
was elected vice-president in November, 
1840. President Harrison dying one month 
after his inauguration, he was succeeded by 
John Tyler. He retained the cabinet chosen 
by his predecessor, and for a time moved in 
harmony with the Whig party. He finally 
instructed the secretary of the treasury. 
Thomas Ewing, to submit to congress a bill 
for the incorporation of a fiscal bank o[ the 



United States, which was passed by con- 
gress, but vetoed by the president on ac- 
count of some amendments he considered 
unconstitutional. For this and other meas- 
ures he was accused of treachery to his 
party, and deserted by his whole cabinet, 
except Daniel Webs' ar. Things grew worse 
until he was abandoned by the Whig party 
formally, when Mr. Webster resigned. He 
was nominated at Baltimore, in May, 1844, 
at the Democratic convention, as their pres- 
idential candidate, but withdrew from the 
canvass, as he saw he had not succeed- 
ed in gaining the confidence of his old 
party. He then retired from politics until 
February, 1861, when he was made presi- 
dent of the abortive peace congress, which 
met in Washington. He shortly after re- 
nounced his allegiance to the United States 
and was elected a member of the Confeder- 
ate congress. He died at Richmond, Janu- 
ary 17, 1862. 

Mr. Tyler married, in 181 3, Miss Letitia 
Christian, who died in 1842 at Washington. 
June 26, 1844, he contracted a second mar- 
riage, with Miss Julia Gardner, of New York. 



COLLIS POTTER HUNTINGTON, 
one of the great men of his time and 
who has left his impress upon the history of 
our national development, was born October 
22, 1 82 1, at Harwinton, Connecticut. 
He received a common-school education 
and at the age of fourteen his spirit of get- 
ting along in the world mastered his educa- 
tional propensities and his father's objec- 
tions and he left school. He went to Cali- 
fornia in the early days and had opportunities 
which he handled masterfully. Others had 
the same opportunities but they did not have 
his brains nor his energy, and it was he who 
overcame obstacles and reaped the reward 
of his genius. Transcontinental railways. 



COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPtir. 



95 



"were inevitable, but the realization of this 
masterful achievement would have been de- 
layed to a much later day if there had been 
no Huntington. He associated himself with 
Messrs. Mark Hopkins, Leland Stanford, 
and Charles Crocker, and they furnished the 
money necessary for a survey across the 
Sierra Nevadas, secured a charter for the 
road, and raised, with the government's aid, 
money enough to construct and equip that 
railway, which at the time of its completion 
was a marvel of engineering and one of the 
wonders of the world. Mr. Huntington be- 
came president of the Southern Pacific rail- 
road, vice-president of the Central Pacific; 
trustee of the Atlantic and Pacific Telegraph 
Company, and a director of the Occidental 
and Oriental Steamship Company, besides 
being identified with many other business 
enterprises of vast importance. 



GEORGE A. CUSTER, a famous In- 
diart fighter, was born in Ohio in 1840. 
He graduated at West Point in 1861, an- 
served in the Civil war; was at Bull Run id 
1861, and was in the Peninsular campaign, 
being one of General McClellan's aides-de, 
camp. He fought in the battles of South 
Mountain and Antietam in 1863, and was 
with General Stoneman on his famous 
cavalry raid. He was engaged in the battle 
of Gettysburg, and was there made brevet- 
major. In 1863 was appointed brigadier- 
general of volunteers. General Custer was 
in many skirmishes in central Virginia in 
1863-64, and was present at the following 
battles of the Richmond campaign: Wil- 
derness, Todd's Tavern, Yellow Tavern, where 
he wasbrevetted lieutenant-colonel; Meadow 
Bridge, Haw's Shop, Cold Harbor, Trevil- 
lian Station. In the Shenandoah Valley 
1 864-65 he was brevetted colonel at Opequan 
Creek, and at Cedar Creek he was made 



brevet major-general for gallant conduct 
during the engagement. General Custer 
was in command ot a cavalry division in the 
pursuit of Lee's army in 1865, and fought 
at Dinwiddle Court House, Five Forks, 
where he was made brevet brigadier-general; 
Sailors Creek and Appomattox, where he 
gained additional honors and was made 
brevet major-general, and was given the 
command of the cavalry in the military 
division of the southwest and Gulf, in 1865. 
After the establishment of peace he went 
west on frontier duty and performed gallant 
and valuable service in the troubles with the 
Indians. He was killed in the massacre on 
the Little Big Horn river, South Dakota, 
June 25, 1876. 



DANIEL WOLSEY VOORHEES, cel- 
brated as " The Tall Sycamore of the 
Wabash," was born September 26, 1827, 
in Butler county, Ohio. When he was two 
months old his parents removed to Fount- 
ain county, Indiana. He grew to manhood 
on a farm, engaged in all the arduous work 
pertaining to rural life. In 1845 he entered 
the Indiana Asbury University, now the De 
Pauw, from which he graduated in 1849. 
He took up the study of law at Crawfords- 
ville, and in 185 i began the practice of his 
profession at Covington, Fountain county, 
Indiana. He became a law partner of 
United States Senator Hannegan, of Indi- 
ana, in 1852, and in 1856 he was an unsuc- 
cessful candidate for congress. In the fol- 
lowing year he took up his residence in Terre 
Haute, Indiana. He was United States 
district attorney for Indiana from 1857 until 
1 86 1, and he had during this period been 
elected to congress, in i860. Mr. Voorhees 
was re-elected to congress in 1 862 and 1 864, 
but he was unsuccessful in the election of 
1866. However, he was returned to con- 



96 



COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHT. 



gress in 1868, where he remained until 1874, 
having been re-elected twice. In 1S77 he 
was appointed United States senator from 
Indiana to fill a vacancy caused by the death 
of O. P. Morton, and at the end of the term 
was elected for the ensuing term, being re- 
elected in 1885 and in 1891 to the same of- 
fice. He served with distinction on many 
of the committees, and took a very prom- 
inent part in the discussion of all the im- 
portant legislation of his time. His death 
occurred in August, 189 . 



ALEXANDER GRAHAM BELL, fa- 
mous as one of the inventors of the tele- 
phone, was born in Edinburgh, Scotland, 
March 3rd, 1847. He received his early 
education in the high school and later he 
attended the university, and was specially 
trained to follow his grandfather's profes- 
sion, that of removing impediments of 
speech. He emigrated to the United States 
in J 872, and introduced into this country 
his father's invention of visible speech in the 
institutions for deaf-mutes. Later he was 
appointed professor of vocal physiology in 
the Boston University. He worked for 
many years during his leisure hours on his 
telephonic discovery, and finally perfected 
it and exhibited it publicly, before it had 
reached the high state of perfection to which 
he brought it. His first exhibition of it was 
at the Centennial Exhibition that was held 
in Philadelphia in 1876. Its success is now 
established throughout the civilized world. 
In 1882 Prof. Bell received a diploma and 
the decoration of the Legion of Honor from 
the Academy of Sciences of France. 



WILLIAM HICKLING PRESCOTT, 
the justly celebrated historian and 
author, was a native of Salem, Massachu- 
setts, and was born May 4, 1796. He was 



the son of Judge William Prescott and the 
grandson of the hero of Bunker Hill, Colonel 
William Prescott. 

Our subject in 1808 removed with the 
family to Boston, in the schools of which 
city he received his early education. He 
entered Harvard College as a sophomore in 
181 1, having been prepared at the private 
classical college of Rev. Dr. J. S. J. Gardi- 
jner. The following year he received an in- 
ury in his left eye which made study 
through life a matter of difficulty. He 
graduated in 18 14 with high honors in the 
classics and belle lettres. He spent several 
months on the Azores Islands, and later 
visited England, France and Italy, return- 
ing home in 18 17. In June, 1818, he 
founded a social and literary club at Boston 
for which he edited "The Club Room," a 
periodical doomed to but a short life. May 
4, 1820, he married Miss Susan Amory. 
He devoted Several years after that event to 
a thorough study of ancient and modern 
history and literature. As the fruits of his 
labors he published several well written 
essays upon French and Italian poetry and 
romance in the " North American Review." 
January 19, 1826, he decided to take up his 
first great historical work, the " History of 
the Reign of Ferdinand and Isabella." To 
this he gave the labor of ten )'ears, publish- 
ing the same December 25, 1837. Although 
placed at the head of all American authors, 
so diffident was Prescott of his literary merit 
that although he had four copies of this 
work printed for his own convenience, he 
hesitated a long time before giving it to the 
public, and it was only by the solicitation of 
friends, especially of that talented Spanish 
scholar, George Ticknor, that he was in- 
duced to do so. Soon the volumes were 
translated into French, Italian, Dutch and 
German, and the work was recognized 



COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHr. 



97 



throughout the world as one of the most 
meritorious of historical compositions. In 
1843 he published the "Conquest of Mexi- 
co," and in 1847 the "Conquest of Peru." 
Two years later there came from his pen a 
volume of " Biographical and Critical Mis- 
cellanies." Going abroad in the summer of 
1850, he was received with great distinction 
in the literary circles of London, Edinburgh, 
Paris, Antwerp and Brussels. Oxford Uni- 
versity conferred the degree of D. C. L. 
upon him. In 1855 he issued two volumeri 
of his "History of the Reign of Philip the 
Second," and a third in 1858. In the 
meantime he edited Robertson's "Charles 
the Fifth, " adding a history of the life of 
that monarch after his abdication. Death 
cut short his work on the remaining volumes 
Oi' " Philip the Second," coming to him at 
Boston, Massachusetts, May 28, 1859. 



OLIVER HAZARD PERRY, a noted 
American commodore, was born in 
South Kingston, Rhode Island, August 23, 
17S5. He saw his first service as a mid- 
shipman in the United States navy in April, 
1799. He cruised with his father. Captain 
Christopher Raymond Perry, in the West In- 
dies for about two years. In 1804 he was 
in the war against Tripoli, and was made 
lieutenant in 1807. At the opening of hostili- 
ties with Great Britain in i S 1 2 he was given 
command of a fleet of gunboats on the At- 
lantic coast. At his request he was trans- 
ferred, a year later, to Lake Ontario, where 
he served under Commodore Chauncey, and 
took an active part in the attack on Fort 
George. He was ordered to fit out a squad- 
ron on Lake Erie, which he did, building 
most of his vessels from the forests along 
the shore, and by the summer of 1 8 1 3 he had 
a fleet of nine vessels at Presque Isle, now 
Erie, Pennsylvania September loth he 



attacked and captured the British fieet near 
Put-in-Bay, thus clearing the lake of hostile 
ships. His famous dispatch is part of his 
fame, " We have met the enemy, and they 
are ours." He co-operated with Gen. Har- 
rison, and the success of the campaign in 
the northwest was largely due to his victory. 
The next year he was transferred to the Po- 
tomac, and assisted in the defense of Balti- 
more. After the war he was in constant 
service with the various squadrons in cruising 
in all parts of the world. He died of yellow 
fever on the Island of Trinidad, August 23, 
1 8 19. His remains were conveyed to New- 
port, and buried there, and an imposing 
obelisk was erected to his memory by the 
State of Rhode Island. A bronze statue 
was also erected in his honor, the unveiling 
taking place in 1885. 



TOHN PAUL JONES, though a native 
J of Scotland, was one of America's most 
noted fighters during the Revolutionary war. 
He was born July 6, 1747. His father was 
a gardener, but the young man soon be- 
came interested in a seafaring life and at 
the age of twelve he was apprenticed to a 
sea captain engaged in the American trade. 
His first voyage landed, him in Virginia, 
where he had a brother who had settled 
there several years prior. The failure of 
the captain released young Jones from his 
apprenticeship bonds, and he was engaged 
as third mate of a vessel engaged in the 
slave trade. He abandoned this trade after 
a few years, from his own sense of disgrace. 
He took passage from Jamaica for Scotland 
in 1768, and on the voyage both the captain 
and the mate died and he was compelled to 
take command of the vessel for the re- 
mainder of the voyage. He soon after 
became master of the vessel. He returned 
to Virginia about 1773 to settle up the estate 



9a 



COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPH1 



of his brother, and at this time added the 
name "Jones," having previously been 
known as John Paul. He settled down in 
Virginia, but when the war broke out in 
1775 he offered his services to congress and 
was appointed senior lieutenant of the flag- 
ship "Alfred," on which he hoisted the 
American flag with his own hands, the first 
vessel that had ever carried a flag of the 
new nation. He was afterward appointed 
to the command of the " Alfred," and later 
of the "Providence," in each of which ves- 
sels he did good service, as also in the 
" Ranger," to the command of which he 
was later appointed. The fight that made 
him famous, however, was that in which he 
captured the " Serapis," off the coast of 
Scotland. He was then in command of the 
"Bon Homme Richard," which had been 
fitted out for him by the French government 
and named by Jones in honor of Benjamin 
Franklin, or " Good Man Richard," Frank- 
lin being author of the publication known 
as " Poor Richard's Almanac." The fight 
between the " Richard" and the "Serapis" 
lasted three hours, all of which time the 
vessels were at close range, and most of the 
time in actual contact. Jones' vessel was 
on fire several times, and early in the en- 
gagement two of his guns bursted, rendering 
the battery useless. Also an envious officer 
of the Alliance, one of Jones' own fleet, 
opened fire upon the " Richard " at a crit- 
ical time, completely disabling the vessel. 
Jones continued the fight, in spite of coun- 
sels to surrender, and after dark the " Ser- 
apis" struck her colors, and was hastily 
boarded by Jones and his crew, while the 
"Richard" sank, bows first, after the 
wounded had been taken on board the 
"Serapis." Most of the other vessels of 
the fleet of which the " Serapis" was con- 
voy, surrendered, and were taken with the 



"Serapis" to France, where Jones was 
received with greatest honors, and the king 
presented him with an elegant sword and 
the cross of the Order of Military Merit. 
Congress gave him a vote of thanks and 
made him commander of a new ship, the 
"America," but the vessel was afterward 
given to France and Jones never saw active 
sea service again. He came to America again, 
in 1787, after the close of the war, and was 
voted a gold medal by congress. He went to 
Russia and was appointed rear-admiral and 
rendered service of value against the Turks, 
but on account of personal enmity of the fav- 
orites of the emperor he was retired on a pen- 
sion. Failing to collect this, he returned to 
France, where he died, July 18, 1792. 



THOMAS MORAN, the well-known 
painter of Rocky Mountain scenery, 
was born in Lancashire, England, in 1837. 
He came to America when a child, and 
showing artistic tastes, he was apprenticed 
to a wood engraver in Philadelphia. Three 
years later he began landscape painting, and 
his style soon began to exhibit signs of genius. 
His first works were water-colors, and 
though without an instructor he began the 
use of oils, he soon found it necessary to 
visit Europe, where he gave particular at- 
tention to the works of Turner. He joined 
the Yellowstone Park exploring expedition 
and visited the Rocky Mountains in 1871 
and again in 1873, making numerous 
sketches of the scenery. The most note- 
worthy results were his ' ' Grand Canon of 
the Yellowstone," and " The Chasm of the 
Colorado, " which were purchased by con- 
gress at $10,000 each, the first of which is 
undoubtedly the finest landscape painting 
produced in this country. Mr. Moran has 
subordinated art to nature, and the subjects 
he has chosen leave little ground for fault 



COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHT. 



101 



finding on that account. "The Mountain 
of the Holy Cross," "The Groves Were 
God's First Temples," "The CHffs of Green 
River," " The Children of the Mountain," 
"The Ripening of the Leaf," and others 
have given him additional fame, and while 
they do not equal in grandeur the first 
mentioned, in many respects from an artis- 
tic standpoint they are superior. 



L ELAND STANFORD was one of the 
greatest men of the Pacific coast and 
also had a national reputation. He was 
born March 9, 1824, in Albany county. New 
York, and passed his early life on his 
father's farm. He attended the local 
schools of the county and at the age of 
twenty began the study of law. He 
entered the law office of Wheaton, Doolittle 
and Hadley, at Albany, in 1845, and a few 
years later he moved to Port Washington, 
Wisconsin, where he practiced law four 
years with moderate success. In 1852 Mr. 
Stanford determined to push further west, 
and, accordingly went to California, where 
three of his brothers were established in 
business in the mining towns. They took 
Leland into partnership, giving him charge 
of a branch store at Michigan Bluff, in 
Placer county. There he developed great 
business ability and four years later started 
a mercantile house of his own in San Fran- 
cisco, which soon became one of the most 
substantial houses on the coast. On the 
formation of the Republican party he inter- 
ested himself in politics, and in i860 was 
sent as a delegate to the convention that 
nominated Abraham Lincoln. In the 
autumn of 1861 he was elected, by an im- 
mense majority, governor of California. 
Prior to his election as governor he had 
been chosen president of the newly-orga- 
nized Central Pacific Railroad Company, 



and after leaving the executive chair he de- 
voted all of his time to the construction of 
the Pacific end of the transcontinental rail- 
way. May 10, 1869, Mr. Stanford drove 
the last spike of the Central Pacific road, 
thus completing the route across the conti- 
nent. He was also president of the Occi- 
dental and Oriental Steamship Company. 
He had but one son, who died of typhoid 
fever, and as a monument to his child he 
founded the university which bears his son's 
name, Leland Stanford, Junior, University. 
Mr. Stanford gave to this university eighty- 
three thousand acres of land, the estimated 
value of which is $8,000,000, and the entire 
endowment is $20,000,000. In 1885 Mr. 
Stanford was elected United States senator 
as a Republican, to succeed J. T. Farley, a 
Democrat, and was re-elected in 189 1. His 
death occurred June 20, 1894, at Palo Alto, 
California. 

STEPHEN DECATUR, a famous com- 
modore in the United States navy, was 
born in Maryland in 1779. He entered the 
naval service in 1798. In 1804, when the 
American vessel Philadelphia had been run 
aground and captured in the harbor of Trip- 
oli, Decatur, at the head of a few men, 
boarded her and burned her in the face of 
the guns from th e city defenses. For this 
daring deed he was made captain. He was 
given command of the frigate United States 
at the breaking out of the war of 18 12, and 
in October of that year he captured the 
British frigate Macedonian, and was re- 
warded with a gold medal by congress. Af- 
ter the close of the war he was sent as com- 
mander of a fleet of ten vessels to chastise 
the dey of Algiers, who was preying upon 
American commerce with impunity and de- 
manding tribute and ransom for the release 
j of American citizens captured. Decatur 



102 



COMPENDIUM OF BTOGRAPHT. 



captured a number of Algerian vessels, and 
compelled the dey to sue for peace. He 
was noted for his daring and intrepidity, 
and his coolness in the face of danger, and 
helped to bring the United States navy into 
favor with the people and congress as a 
means of defense and offense in time of 
war. He was killed in a duel by Commo- 
dore Barron, March 12, 1820. 



JAMES KNOX POLK, the eleventh 
president of the United States, 1845 to 
1849, was born November 2, 1795, in Meck- 
lenburg county. North Carolina, and was 
the eldest child of a family of six sons. He 
removed with his father to the Valley of the 
Duck River, in Tennessee, in 1806. He 
attended the common schools and became 
very proficient in the lower branches of 
education, and supplemented this with 
a course in the Murfreesboro Academy, 
which he entered in 18 13 and in the autumn 
of 1815 he became a student in the sopho- 
more class of the University of North Caro- 
lina, at Chapel Hill, and was graduated in 
18 1 8. He then spent a short time in re- 
cuperating his health and then proceeded to 
Nashville, Tennessee, where he took up the 
study of law in the office of Feli.x Grundy. 
After the completion of his law studies he 
was admitted to the bar and removed to 
Columbia, Maury county, Tennessee, and 
started in the active practice of his profes- 
sion. Mr. Polk was a Jeffersonian " Re- 
publican " and in 1823 he was elected to the 
legislature of Tennessee. He was a strict 
constructionist and did not believe that the 
general government had the power to carry 
on internal improvements in the states, but 
deemed it important that it should have that 
power, and wanted the constitution amended 
to that effect. But later on he became 
alarmed lest the general government might 



become strong enough to abolish slavery 
and therefore gave his whole support to the 
" State's Rights" movement, and endeavored 
to check the centralization of power in the 
general government. Mr. Polk was chosen 
a member of congress in 1825, and held that 
office until 1S39. He then withdrew, as he 
was the successful gubernatorial candidate 
of his state. He had become a man of 
great influence in the house, and, as the 
leader of the Jackson party in that body, 
weilded great influence in the election of 
General Jackson to the presidency. He 
sustained the president in all his measures 
and still remained in the house after Gen- 
eral Jackson had been succeeded by Martin 
Van Buren. He was speaker of the house 
during five sessions of congress. He was 
elected governor of Tennessee by a large 
majority and took the oath of office at Nash- 
ville, October 4, 1839. He was a candidate 
for re-election but was defeated by Governor 
Jones, the Whig candidate. In 1844 the 
most prominent question in the election was 
the annexation of Texas, and as Mr. Polk 
was the avowed champion of this cause he 
was nominated for president by the pro- 
slavery wing of the democratic party, was 
elected by a large majority, and was inaug- 
urated March 4, 1845. President Polk 
formed a very able cabinet, consisting of 
James Buchanan, Robert J. Walker, Will- 
iam L. Marcy, George Bancroft, Cave John- 
son, and John Y. Mason. The dispute re- 
garding the Oregon boundary was settled 
during his term of office and a new depart- 
ment was added to the list of cabinet po- 
sitions, that of the Interior. The low tariff 
bill of 1846 was carried and the financial 
system of the country was reorganized. It 
was also during President Polk's term that 
the Mexican war was successfully conducted, 
which resulted in the acquisition of Califor-- 



COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPI/i: 



103- 



nia and New Mexico. Mr. Polk retired from 
the presidency March 4, 1849, after having 
declined a re-nomination, and was succeeded 
by General Zachary Taylor, the hero of the 
Mexican war. Mr. Polk retired to private 
life, to his home in Nashville, where he died 
at the age of fifty-four on June 9, 1849. 



ANNA DICKINSON (Anna Elizabeth 
Dickinson), a noted lecturer and pub- 
lic speaker, was born at Philadelphia, Oc- 
tober 28, 1842. Her parents were Quakers, 
and she was educated at the Friends' free 
schools in her native city. She early man- 
ifested an inclination toward elocution and 
puMic speaking, and when, at the age of iS, 
she found an opportunity to appear before 
a national assemblage f(jr the discussion of 
woman's rights, she at once established her 
reputation as a public speaker. From i860 
to the close of the war and during the ex- 
citing period of reconstruction, she was one 
of the most noted and influential speakers 
before the American public, and her popu- 
larity was unequaled by that of any of her 
sex. A few weeks after the defeat and 
death of Colonel Baker at Ball's Bluff, Anna 
Dickinson, lecturing in New York, made 
the remarkable assertion, " Not the incom- 
petency of Colonel Baker, but the treachery 
of General McClellan caused the disaster at 
Ball's Bluff." She was hissed and hooted 
off the stage. A year later, at the same 
hall and with much the same class of audi- 
tors, she repeated the identical words, and 
the applause was so great and so long con- 
tinued that it was impossible to go on with 
her lecture for more than half an hour. The 
change of sentiment had been wrought by 
the reverses and dismissal of McClellan and 
his ambition to succeed Mr. Lincoln as presi- 
dent. 

Ten years after the close of the war. Anna 



Dickinson was not heard of on the lec- 
ture platform, and about that time she made 
an attempt to enter the dramatic profession, 
but after appearing a number of times in dif- 
ferent plays she was pronounced a failure. 



ROBERT J. BURDETTE.— Some per- 
sonal characteristics of Mr. Burdette 
were quaintly given by himself in the follow- 
ing '.vords: "Politics.'' Republican after 
the strictest sect. Religion .' Baptist. Per- 
sonal appearance .-' Below medium height, 
and weigh one hundred and thirty- five 
pounds, no shillings and no pence. Rich .'' 
Not enough to own a yacht. Favorite read- 
ing.' Poetry and history — know Longfellow 
by heart, ahnost. Write for magizines } 
Have mo.'e ' declined with thar^ks ' letters 
than would fill a trunk. Never able to get 
into a magazine with a line. Care about it.' 
Mad as thunder. Think about starting a 
magazine and rejecting everbody's articles 
except my own." Mr. Burdette was born 
at Greensborough, Pennsylvania, in 1844. 
He served through the war of the rebellion 
under General Banks "on an excursion 
ticket" as he felicitously described it, "good 
both ways, conquering in one direction and 
running in the other, pay going on just the 
same." He entered into journalism by the 
gateway of New York correspondence for 
the "Peoria Transcript," and in 1874 went 
on the "Burlington Hawkeye" of which he 
became the managing editor, and the work 
that he did on this paper made both him- 
self and the paper famous in the world of 
humor. Mr. Burdette married in 1870, 
and his wife, whom he called "Her Little 
Serene Highness," was to him a guiding 
light until the day of her death, and it was- 
probably the unconscious pathos with which 
he described her in his work that broke the 
barriers that had kept him out of the maga- 



104 



COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY. 



zines and secured him the acceptance of his 
"Confessions" by Lippincott some years 
ago, and brought him substantial fame and 
recognition in the Hterary world. 



WILLIAM DEAN HOWELLS, one 
of the leading novelists of the present 
century and author of a number of works 
that gained for him a place in the hearts of 
the people, was born March i, 1837, at 
Martinsville, Belmont county, Ohio. At 
the age of three years he accompanied his 
father, who was a printer, to Hamilton, 
Ohio, where he learned the printer's trade. 
Later he was engaged on the editorial staff 
of the " Cincinnati Gazette" and the " Ohio 
State Journal." During 1861-65 he was 
the United States consul at Venice, and 
from 1 87 1 to 1878 he was the editor-in- 
chief of the "Atlantic Monthly." As a 
writer he became one of the most fertile 
and readable of authors and a pleasing poet. 
In 1885 he became connected with "Har- 
per's Magazine. " Mr. Howells was author 
of the list of books that we give below: 
"Venetian Life," " Italian Journeys," "No 
Love Lost," " Suburban Sketches," "Their 
Wedding Journey," "A Chance Acquaint- 
ance," "A Foregone Conclusion," "Dr. 
Breen's Practice," "A Modern Instance," 
"The Rise of Silas Lapham," "Tuscan 
Cities," "Indian Summer," besides many 
others. He also wrote the " Poem of Two 
Friends," with J. J. Piatt in i860, and 
some minor dramas: "The Drawing 
Room Car," "The Sleeping Car," etc., 
that are full of exqusite humor and elegant 
dialogue. 

TAMES RUSSELL LOWELL was a son 
<J of the Rev. Charles Lowell, and was born 
at Cambridge, Massachusetts, February 22, 
1819. He graduated at Harvard College in 



1838 as class poet, and went to Harvard 
Law School, from which he was graduated 
in 1840, and commenced the practice of his 
profession in Boston, but soon gave his un- 
divided attention to literary labors. Mr. 
Lowell printed, in 1841, a small volume of 
poems entitled " A Year's Life," edited with 
Robert Carter; in 1843, " The Pioneer, " a 
literary and critical niagazine (monthly), and 
in 1848 another book of poems, that con- 
tained several directed against slavery. He 
published in 1844 a volume of "Poems" 
and in 1845 " Conversations on Some 
of the Old Poets," "The Vision of Sir 
Launfal," " A Fable for Critics," and "The 
Bigelow Papers," the lattei satirical es- 
says in dialect poetry directed against 
slavery and the war with Mexico. In 
1851-52 he traveled in Europe and re- 
sided in Italy for a considerable time, and 
delivered in 1854-55 a course of lectures on 
the British poets, before the Lowell Insti- 
tute, Boston. Mr. Lowell succeeded Long- 
fellow in January, 1855, as professor of 
modern languages and literature at Harvard 
College, and spent another year in Euiope 
qualifying himself for that post. He edited 
the " Atlantic Monthly" from 1857 to 1862, 
and the "North American Review" from 
1863 until 1872. From 1864 to 1870 he 
published the following works: " Fireside 
Travels," "Under the Willows," "The 
Commemoration Ode," in honor of the 
alumni of Harvard who had fallen in the 
Civil war; "The Cathedral," two volumes 
of essays; "Among My Books" and "My 
Study Windows," and in 1867 he published 
a new series of the " Bigelow Papers." He 
traveled extensively in Europe in 1872-74, 
and received in person the degree of D. C. 
L. at Oxford rfnd that of LL. D. at the 
University of Cambridge, England. He 
was also interested in political life and held 



COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY. 



105 



many important offices. He was United 
States minister to Spain in 1877 and was 
also minister to England in 1880-85. On 
January 2, 1884, he was elected lord rector 
of St. Andrew University in Glasgow, Scot- 
land, but soon after he resigned the same. 
Mr. Lowell's works enjoy great popularity 
in the United States and England. He 
died August 12, 1891. 



JOSEPH HENRY, one of America's 
greatest scientists, was born at Albany, 
New York, December 17, 1797. He was 
educated in the common schools of the city 
and graduated from the Albany Academy, 
where he became a professor of mathemat- 
ics in 1826. In 1827 he commenced a 
course of investigation, which he continued 
for a number of years, and the results pro- 
duced had great effect on the scientific world. 
The first success was achieved by producing 
the electric magnet, and he next proved the 
possibility of exciting magnetic energy at a 
distance, and it was the invention of Pro- 
fessor Henry's intensity magnet that first 
made the invention of electric telegraph a 
possibility. He made a statement regarding 
the practicability of applying the intensity 
magnet to telegraphic uses, in his article to 
the "American Journal of Science " in 1831. 
During the same year he produced the first 
mechanical contrivance ever invented for 
maintaining continuous motion by means of 
electro-magnetism, and he also contrived a 
machine by which signals could be made at 
a distance by the use of his electro-magnet, 
the signals being produced by a lever strik- 
ing on a bell. Some of his electro-magnets 
were of great power, one carried over a ton 
and another not less than three thousand six 
hundred pounds. In 1832 he discovered 
that secondary currents could be produced 
i;- n long cc-ductor by the induction of the 



primary current upon itself, and also in the 
same year he produced a spark by means of 
a purely magnetic induction. Professor 
Henry was elected, in 1832, professor of nat- 
ural philosophy in the College of New Jer- 
sey, and in his earliest lectures at Princeton, 
demonstrated the feasibility of the electric 
telegraph. He visited Europe in 1837, and 
while there he had an interview with Pro- 
fessor Wheatstone, the inventor of the 
needle magnetic telegraph. In 1846 he was 
elected secretary of the Smithsonian Insti- 
tution, being the first incumbent in that office, 
which he held until his death. Professor 
Henry was elected president of the Ameri- 
can Association for the Advancement of 
Science, in 1849, and of the National 
Academy of Sciences. He was made chair- 
man of the lighthouse board of the United 
States in 1871 and held that position up to 
the time of his death. He received the 
honorary degree of doctor of laws from 
Union College in 1829, and from Harvard 
University in 1851, and his death occurred 
May 13, 1878. Among his numerous works 
may be mentioned the following: "Contri- 
butions to Electricity and Magnetism," 
" American Philosophic Trans, " and many 
articles in the "American Journal of 
Science," the journal of the Franklin Insti- 
tute; the proceedings of the American As- 
sociation for the Advancement of Science, 
and in the annual reports of the Smith- 
sonian Institution from its foundation. 



FRANKLIN BUCHANAN, the famous 
rear-admiral of the Confederate navy 
during the rebellion, was born in Baltimore, 
Maryland. He became a United States 
midshipman in 181 5 and was promoted 
through the various grades of the service 
and became a captain in 185$. Mr. Buch 
anan resigned his captaincy in order to join 



106 



COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY. 



the Confederate service in 1861 and later he 
asked to be reinstated, but his request was 
refused and he then entered into the service 
of the Confederate government. He was 
placed in command of the frigate " Merri- 
mac " after she had been fitted up as an iron- 
clad, and had command of her at the time 
of the battle of Hampton Roads. It was 
he who had command when the " Merri- 
mac" sunk the two wooden frigates, " Con- 
gress" and "Cumberland," and was also 
in command during part of the historical 
battle of the " Merrimac" and the "Moni- 
tor," where he was wounded and the com- 
mand devolved upon Lieutenant Catesby 
Jones. He was created rear-admiral in the 
Confederate service and commanded the 
Confederate fleet in Mobile bay, which was 
defeated by Admiral Farragut, August 5, 
1864. Mr. Buchanan was in command of 
the "Tennessee," an ironclad, and during 
the engagement he lost one of his legs and 
was taken prisoner in the end by the Union 
fleet. After the war he settled in Talbot 
county, Maryland, where he died May 11, 
1874- 

RICHARD PARKS BLAND, a celebrated 
American statesman, frequently called 
"the father of the house," because of his 
many years of service in the lower house 
of congress, was born August 19, 1835, 
near Hartford, Kentucky, where he received 
a plain academic education. He moved, 
in 1855, to Missouri, from whence he went 
overland to California, afterward locating in 
Virginia City, now in the state of Nevada, 
but then part of the territory of Utah. 
While there he practiced law, dabbled in 
mines and mining in Nevada and California 
for several years, and served for a time as 
treasurer of Carson county, Nevada. Mr. 
Bland returned to Missouri in 1865, where 



he engaged in the practice ot law at RoUa, 
Missouri, and in 1869 removed to Lebanon, 
Missouri. He began his congressional career 
in 1873, when he was elected as a Demo- 
crat to the forty-third congress, and he was 
regularly re-elected to every congress after 
that time up to the fifty-fourth, when he was 
defeated for re-election, but was returned 
to the fifty-fifth congress as a Silver Demo- 
crat. During all his protracted service, 
while Mr. Bland was always steadfast in his 
support of democratic measures, yet he won 
his special renown as the great advocate of 
silver, being strongly in favor of the free 
and unlimited coinage of silver, and on ac- 
count of his pronounced views was one of 
the candidates for the presidential nomina- 
tion of the Democratic party at Chicago in 



FANNY DAVENPORT (F. L. G. Daven- 
port) was of British birth, but she be- 
longs to the American stage. She was the 
daughter of the famous actor, E. L. Daven- 
port, and was born in London in 1850. 
She first went on the stage as a child at the 
Howard Athenaeum, Boston, and her entire 
life was spent upon the stage. She played 
children's parts at Burton's old theater in 
Chambers street, and then, in 1862, appeared 
as the King of Spain in " Faint Heart Never 
Won Fair Lady." Here she attracted the 
notice of Augustin Daly, the noted mana- 
ger, then at the Fifth Avenue theater, who 
offered her a six weeks' engagement with 
her father in "London Assurance." She 
afterwards appeared at the same house in a 
variety of characters, and her versatility 
was favorably noticed by the critics. After 
the burning of the old Fifth Avenue, the 
present theater of that name was built at 
Twenty-eighth street, and here Miss Daven- 
port appeared in a play written for her by 



COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHIC 



107 



Mr. Daly. She scored a great success. 
She then starred in this play throughout the 
country, and was married to Mr. Edwin F. 
Price, an actor of her company, in 1880. 
In 1882 she went to Paris and purchased 
the right to produce in America Sardou's 
great emotional play, "Fedora." It was 
put on at the Fourteenth Street theater in 
New York, and in it she won popular favor 
and became one of the most famous actresses 
of her time. 



HORACE BRIGHAM CLAFLIN, one 
of the greatest merchants America has 
produced, was born in Milford, Massachu- 
setts, a son of John Claflin, also a mer- 
chant. Young Claflin started his active life 
as a clerk in his father's store, after having 
been offered the opportunity of a college 
education, but with the characteristic 
promptness that was one of his virtues he 
exclaimed, "No law or medicine for me." 
He had set his heart on being a merchant, 
and when his father retired he and his 
brother Aaron, and his brother-in-law, Sam- 
uel Daniels, conducted the business. Mr. 
Claflin was not content, however, to run a 
store in a town like Milford, and accordingly 
opened a dry goods store at Worcester, with 
his brother as a partner, but the partnership 
was dissolved a year later and H. B. Claflin 
assumed complete control. The business 
in Worcester had been conducted on ortho- 
dox principles, and when Mr. Claflin came 
there and introduced advertising as a means 
of drawing trade, he created considerable 
animosity among the older merchants. Ten 
years later he was one of the most prosper- 
ous merchants. He disposed of his busi- 
ness in Worcester for $30,000, and went to 
New York to search for a wider field than 
that of a shopkeeper. Mr. Claflin and 
William M. Bulkley started in the dry goods 



business there under the firm name of Bulk- 
ley & Claflin, in 1843, and Mr. Bulkley wa? 
connected with the firm until 18 51, when he 
retired. A new firm was then formed under 
the name of Claflin, Mellin & Co. This 
firm succeeded in founding the largest dry 
goods house in the world, and after weather- 
ing the dangers of the civil war, during 
which the house came very near going un- 
der, and was saved only by the superior 
business abilities of Mr. Claflin, continued to 
grow. The sales of the firm amounted to 
over $72,000,000 a year after the close of 
the war. Mr. Claflin died November 14, 
1885. 

CHARLOTTE CUSHMAN (Charlotte 
Saunders Cushman), one of the most 
celebrated American actresses, was born in 
Boston, July 23, 1816. She was descended 
from one of the earliest Puritan families. 
Her first attempt at stage work was at the 
age of fourteen years in a charitable concert 
given by amateurs in Boston. From this 
time her advance to the first place on the 
American lyric stage was steady, until, in 
1835, while singing in New Orleans, she 
suddenly lost control of her voice so far as 
relates to singing, and was compelled to re- 
tire. She then took up the study for the 
dramatic stage under the direction of Mr. 
Barton, the tragedian. She soon after 
made her debut as " Lady Macbeth." She 
appeared in New York in September, 1836, 
and her success was immediate. Her 
"Romeo" was almost perfect, and she is 
the only woman that has ever appeared in 
the part of " Cardinal Wolsey." She at 
different times acted as support of Forrest 
and Macready. Her London engagement, 
secured in 1845, after many and great dis- 
couragements, proved an unqualified suc- 
cess. 



108 



COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY. 



Her farewell appearance was at Booth's 
theater, New York, November 7, 1874, in 
the part of " Lady Macbeth," and after that 
performance an Ode by R. H. Stoddard 
was read, and a body of citizens went upon 
the stage, and in their name the venerable 
poet Longfellow presented her with a wreath 
of laurel with an inscription to the effect 
that "she who merits the palm should bear 
it." From the time of her appearance as a 
modest girl in a charitable entertainment 
down to the time of final triumph as a tragic 
queen, she bore herself with as much honor 
to womanhood as to the profession she rep- 
resented. Her death occurred in Boston, 
February 18, 1876. By her profession she 
acquired a fortune of $600,000. 



NEAL DOW, one of the most prominent 
temperance reformers our country has 
known, was born in Portland, Me., March 20, 
1804. He received his education in the 
Friends Seminary, at New Bedford, Massa- 
chusetts, his parents being members of that 
sect. After leaving school he pursued a 
mecrantile and manufacturing career for a 
number of years. He was active in the 
affairs of his native city, and in 1839 be- 
came chief of the fire department, and in 
1 85 1 was elected mayor. He was re-elected 
to the latter office in 1854. Being opposed 
to the liquor traffic he was a champion of 
the project of prohibition, first brought for- 
ward in 1839 by James Appleton. While 
serving his first term as mayor he drafted a 
bill for the "suppression of drinking houses 
and tippling shops," which he took to the 
legislature and which was passed without an 
alteration. In 1858 Mr. Dow was elected 
to the legislature. On the outbreak of the 
Civil war he was appointed colonel of the 
Thirteenth Maine Infantry and accompanied 
General Butler's expedition to New Orleans. 



In 1862 he was made brigadier-general. At 
the battle of Port Hudson May 27, 1863, he 
was twice wounded, and taken prisoner. He 
was confined at Libby prison and Mobile 
nearly a year, when, being exchanged, he 
resigned, his health having given way under 
the rigors of his captivity. He made sev- 
eral trips to England in the interests of 
temperance organization, where he addressed 
large audiences. He was the candidate of 
the National Prohibition party for the presi- 
dency in 1880, receiving about ten thousand 
votes. In 1884 he was largely instrumental 
in the amendment of the constitution of 
Maine, adopted by an overwhelming popular 
vote, which forever forbade the manufacture 
or sale of any intoxicating beverages, and 
commanding the legislature to enforce the 
prohibition. He died October 2, 1897. 



ZACHARY TAYLOR, twelfth president 
of the United States, was born in 
Orange countj\ Virginia, September 24, 
1784. His boyhood was spent on his fath- 
er's plantation and his education was lim- 
ited. In 1808 he was made lieutenant of 
the Seventh Infantry, and joined his regi- 
ment at New Orleans. He was promoted 
to captain in 18 10, and commanded at Fort 
Harrison, near the present site of Terre 
Haute, in 18 12, where, for his gallant de- 
fense, he was brevetted major, attaining full 
rank in 18 14. In 181 5 he retired to an es- 
tate near Louisville. In 1S16 here-entered 
the army as major, and was promoted to 
lieutenant-colonel and then to colonel. 
Having for many years been Indian agent 
over a large portion of the western country, 
he was often required in Washington to give 
advice and counsel in matters connected 
with the Indian bureau. He served through 
the Black Hawk Indian war of 1832, and in 
1837 was ordered to the command of the 



COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY. 



109 



army in Florida, where he attacked the In- 
dians in the swamps and brakes, defeated 
them and ended the war. He was brevetted 
brigadier-general and made commander-in- 
chief of the army in Florida. He was as- 
signed to the command of the army of the 
southwest in 1840, but was soon after re- 
lieved of it at his request. He was then 
stationed at posts in Arkansas. In 1845 he 
was ordered to prepare to protect and de- 
fend Texas boundaries from invasion by 
Mexicans and Indians. On the annexation 
of Texas he proceeded with one thousand 
five hundred men to Corpus Christi, within 
the disputed territory. After reinforcement 
he was ordered by the Mexican General Am- 
pudia, to retire beyond the Nueces river, 
with which order he declined to comply. 
The battles of Palo Alto and Resaca de la 
Palma followed, and he crossed the Rio 
Grande and occupied Matamoras May 18th. 
He was commissioned major-general for this 
campaign, and in September he advanced 
upon the city of Monterey and captured it 
after a hard fight. Here he took up winter 
quarters, and when he was about to resume 
activity in the spring he was ordered to send 
the larger part of his army to reinforce 
General Scott at Vera Cruz. After leaving 
garrisons at various points his army was re- 
duced to about five thousand, mostly fresh 
recruits. He was attacked by i:he army of 
Santa Anna at Buena Vista, February 22, 
1847, and after a severe fight completely 
routed the Mexicans. He received the 
thanks of congress and a gold medal for 
this victory. He remained in command of 
the " army of occupation " until winter, 
when he returned to the United States. 

In 1848 General Taylor was nominated 
by the Whigs for president. He was elected 
over his two opponents, Cass and Van 
Buren. Great bitterness was developing in 



the struggle for and against the extension of 
slavery, and the newly acquired territory in 
the west, and the fact that the states were 
now equally divided on that question, tended 
to increase the feeling. President Taylor 
favored immediate admission of California 
with her constitution prohibiting slavery, 
and the admission of other states to be 
formed out of the new territory as they 
might elect as they adopted constitutions 
from time to time. This policy resulted in 
the " Omnibus Bill," which afterward passed 
congress, though in separate bills; not, how- 
ever, until after the death of the soldier- 
statesman, which occurred July 9, 1850. 
One of his daughters became the wife of 
Jefferson Davis. 



M' 



ELVILLE D. LANDON, better known 
as " Eli Perkins, " author, lecturer and 
humorist, was born in Eaton, New York, 
September 7, 1839. He was the son of 
John Landon and grandson of Rufus Lan- 
don, a revolutionary soldier from Litchfield 
county, Connecticut. Melville' was edu- 
cated at the district school and neighboring 
academy, where he was prepared for the 
sophomore class at Madison University. He 
passed two years at the latter, when he was 
admitted to Union College, and graduated 
in the class of 1861, receiving the degree of 
A. M., in 1862. He was, at once, ap- 
pointed to a position in the treasury depart- 
ment at Washington. This being about the 
time of the breaking out of the war, and 
before the appearance of any Union troops 
at the capital, he assisted in the organiza- 
tion of the " Clay Battalion," of Washing- 
ton. Leaving his clerkship some time later, 
he took up duties on the staff of General A. 
L. Chetlain, who was in command at Mem- 
phis. In 1864 he resigned from the army 
and engaged in cotton planting in Arkansas 



110 



COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY. 



and Louisiana. In 1867 he went abroad, 
making the tour of Europe, traversing Rus- 
sia. While in the latter country his old 
commander of the " Clay Battalion," Gen- 
eral Cassius M. Clay, then United States 
minister at St. Petersburg, made him secre- 
tary of legation. In 1871, on returning to 
America, he published a history of the 
Franco-Prussian war, and followed it with 
numerous humorous writings for the public 
press under the name of "Eli Perkins," 
which, with his regular contributions to the 
" Commercial Advertiser," brought him into 
notice, and spread his reputation as a hu- 
morist throughout thecountry. He also pub- 
lished "Saratoga in 1891," "Wit, Humor 
and Pathos," "Wit and Humor of the Age," 
•' Kings of Platform and Pulpit," " Thirty 
Years of Wit and Humor," " Fun and Fact," 
and " China and Japan." 



LEWIS CASS, one of the most prom- 
inent statesman and party leaders of his 
day, was born at Exeter, New Hampshire, 
October 9, 1782. He studied law, and hav- 
ing removed to Zanesville, Ohio, commenced 
the practice of that profession in 1802. He 
entered the service of the American govern- 
ment in 181 2 and was made a colonel in 
the army under General William Hull, and 
on the surrender of Fort Maiden by that 
officer was held as a prisoner. Being re- 
leased in 181 3, he was promoted to the 
rank of brigadier-general and in 18 14 ap- 
pointed governor of Michigan Territory. 
After he had held that office for some 
sixteen years, negotiating, in the meantime, 
many treaties with the Indians, General 
Cass was made secretary of war in the cabi- 
net of President Jackson, in 1831. He was, 
:r! 1836, appointed minister to France, 
v.\h!Lh office he held for six years. In 1844 
ne - as elected United States senator from 



Michigan. In 1846 General Cass opposed 
the Wilmot Proviso, which was an amend- 
ment to a bill for the purchase of land from 
Mexico, which provided that in any of the 
territory acquired from that power slavery 
should not exist. For this and other reasons 
he was nominated as Democratic candidate 
for the presidency of the United States in 
1848, but was defeated by General Zachary 
Taylor, the Whig candidate, having but 
one hundred and thirty-seven electoral votes 
to his opponent's one hundred and sixty- 
three. In 1849 General Cass was re-elected 
to the senate of the United States, and in 
1854 supported Douglas' Kansas-Nebraska 
bill. He became secretary of state in 
March, 1857, under President Buchanan, 
but resigned that office in December, i860. 
He died June 17, 1866. The published 
works of Lewis Cass, while not numerous, 
are well written and display much ability. 
He was one of the foremost men of his day 
in the political councils of the Democratic 
party, and left a reputation for high probity 
and honor behind him. 



DEWITT CLINTON.— Probably there 
were but few men who were so popular 
in their time, or who have had so much in- 
fluence in moulding events as the individual 
whose name honors the head of this article. 
De Witt Clinton was the son of General 
James Clinton, and a nephew of Governor 
George Clinton, who was the fourth vice- 
president of the United States. He was a 
native of Orange county, New York, born at 
Little Britain, March 2, 1769. He gradu- 
ated from Columbia College, in his native 
state, in 1796, and took up the study of law. 
In 1790 he became private secretary to his 
uncle, then governor of New York. He en- 
tered public life as a Republican or anti- 
Federalist, and was elected to the \o\\ cr 



COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY. 



Ill 



house of the state assembly in 1797, and the 
senate of that body in 1798. At that time 
he was looked on as " the most rising man 
in the Union." In 1801 he was elected to 
the United States senate. In 1803 he was 
appointed by the governor and council 
mayor of the city of New York, then a 
very important and powerful office. Hav- 
ing been re-appointed, he held the office 
of mayor for nearly eleven years, and 
rendered great service to that city. Mr. 
Clinton served as lieutenant-governor of 
the state of New York, 1811-13, and 
was one of the commissioners appointed 
to examine and survey a route for a canal 
from the Hudson river to Lake Erie. Dif- 
fering with President Madison, in relation to 
the war, in 18 12, he was nominated for the 
presidency against that gentleman, by a 
coalition party called the Clintonians, many 
of whom were Federalists. Clinton received 
eight-nine electoral votes. His course at 
this time impaired his popularity for a time. 
He was removed from the mayoralty in 
1 8 14, and retired to private life. In 18 15 
he wrote a powerful argument for the con- 
struction of the Erie canal, then a great and 
beneficent work of which he was the prin- 
cipal promoter. This was in the shape of 
a memorial to the legislature, which, in 
18 1 7, passed a bill authorizing the construc- 
tion of that canal. The same year he was 
elected governor of New York, almost unani- 
mously, notwithstanding the opposition of 
a few who pronounced the scheme of the 
canal visionary. He was re-elected governor 
in 1820. He was at this time, also, presi- 
dent of the canal commissioners. He de- 
clined a re-election to the gubernatorial 
chair in 1822 and was removed from his 
place on the canal board two years later. 
But he was triumphantly elected to the of- 
fice of governor that fall, and his pet project, 



the Erie canal, was finished the next year. 
He was re-elected governor in 1826, but 
died while holding that office, February 11, 
1828. 



AARON BURR, one of the many brilliant 
figures on the political stage in the early 
days of America, was born at Newark, New 
Jersey, February 6, 1756. He was the son 
of Aaron and Esther Burr, the former the 
president of the College of New Jersey, and 
the latter a daughter of Jonathan Edwards, 
who had been president of the same educa- 
tional institution. Young Burr graduated 
at Princeton in 1772. In 1775 he joined 
the provincial army at Cambridge, Massa- 
chusetts. For a time, he served as a private 
soldier, but later was made an aide on the 
staff of the unfortunate General Montgom- 
ery, in the Quebec expedition. Subse- 
quently he was on the staffs of Arnold, Put- 
nam and Washington, the latter of whom 
he disliked. He was promoted to the rank 
of lieutenant-colonel and commanded a 
brigade on Monmouth's bloody field. In 
1779, on account of feeble health, Colonel 
Burr resigned from the army. He took up 
the practice of law in Albany, New York, 
but subsequently removed to New York City. 
In 1789 he became attorney-general of that 
state. In 1791 he was chosen to represent 
the state of New York in the United States 
senate and held that position for six years. 
In 1800 he and Thomas Jefferson were both 
candidates for the presidency, and there 
being a tie in the electoral college, each 
having seventy-three votes, the choice was 
left to congress, who gave the first place to 
Jefferson and made Aaron Burr vice-presi- 
dent, as the method then was. In 1804 Mr. 
Burr and his great rival, Alexander Hamil- 
ton, met in a duel, which resulted in the 
death of the latter. Burr losing thereby con- 



112 



COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHr. 



siderable political and social influence. He 
soon embarked in a wild attempt upon 
Mexico, and as was asserted, upon the 
southwestern territories of the United 
States. He was tried for treason at 
Richmond, Virginia, in 1807, but acquitted, 
and to avoid importunate creditors, fled to 
Europe. Afteratime, in 1812, he returned 
to New York, where he practiced law, and 
where he died, September 14, 1836. A man 
of great ability, brilliant and popular talents, 
his influence was destroyed by his unscrupu- 
lous political actions and immoral private 
life. 

ALBERT GALLATIN, one of the most 
distinguished statesmen of the early 
days of the republic, was born at Geneva, 
Switzerland, January 29, 1761. He was 
the son of Jean de Gallatin and Sophia A. 
Rolaz du Rosey Gallatin, representatives of 
an old patrician family. Albert Gallatin 
was left an orphan at an early age, and was 
educated under the care of friends of his 
parents. He graduated from the University 
of Geneva in 1779, and declining employ- 
ment under one of the sovereigns of Ger- 
many, came to the struggling colonies, land- 
ing in Boston July 14, 1780. Shortly after 
his arrival he proceeded to Maine, where he 
served as a volunteer under Colonel Allen. 
He made advances to the government for 
the support of the American troops, and in 
November, 17S0, was placed in command 
of a small fort at Passamaquoddy, defended 
by a force of militia, volunteers and Indians. 
In 1783 he was professor of the French 
language at Harvard University. A year 
later, having received his patrimony from 
Europe, he purchased large tracts of land 
in western Virginia, but was prevented by 
the Indians from forming the large settle- 
ment he proposed, and, in 17S6, purchased 



a farm in Fayette county, Pennsylvania. 
In 1789 he was a member of the convention 
to amend the constitution of that state, and 
united himself with the Republican party, 
the head of which was Thomas Jefferson. 
The following year he was elected to the 
legislature of Pennsylvania, to which he was 
subsequently re-elected. In 1793 he was 
elected to the United States senate, but 
could not take his seat on account of not 
havingbeen a citizen long enough. In 1794 
Mr. Gallatin was elected to the representa- 
tive branch of congress, in which he served 
three terms. He also took an important 
position in the suppression of the "whiskey 
insurrection." In 1801, on the accession of 
Jefferson to the presidency, Mr. Gallatin 
was appointed secretary of the treasury. 
In 1809 Mr. Madison offered him the posi- 
tion of secretary of state, but he declined, 
and continued at the head of the treasury 
until 1812, a period of twelve years. He 
exercised a great influence on the other de- 
partments and in the general administration, 
especially in the matter of financial reform, 
and recommended measures for taxation, 
etc., which were passed by congress, and be- 
came laws May 24, 18 13. The same year he 
was sent as an envoy extraordinary to Rus- 
sia, which had offered to mediate between 
this country and Great Britain, but the lat- 
ter country refusing the interposition of 
another power, and agreeing to treat di- 
rectly with the United States, in 1S14, at 
Ghent, Mr. Gallatin, in connection wiih his 
distinguished colleagues, negotiated and 
signed the treaty of peace. In 181 5. in 
conjunction with Messrs. Adams and Clay, 
he signed, at London, a commercial treaty 
between the two countries. In 18 16, de- 
clining his old post at the head of the treas- 
ury, Mr. Gallatin was sent as minister to 
France, wH re he rem;iined until 1823. 



COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHT. 



113 



After a year spent in England as envoy ex- 
traordinary, he took up his residence in New 
York, and from that time held no public 
office. In 1830 he was chosen president of 
the council of the University of New York. 
He was, in 1831, made president of the 
National bank, which position he resigned 
in 1839. He died August 12, 1849. 



MILLARD FILLMORE, the thirteenth 
president of the United States, was 
born of New England parentage in Summer 
Hill, Cayuga county. New York, January 7, 
1800. His school education was very lim- 
ited, but he occupied his leisure hours in 
study. He worked in youth upon his fa- 
ther's farm in his native county, and at the 
age of fifteen was apprenticed to a wool 
carder and cloth dresser. Four years later 
he was induced by Judge Wood to enter his 
office at Montville, New York, and take up 
the study of law. This warm friend, find- 
ing young Fillmore destitute of means, 
loaned him money, but the latter, not wish- 
ing to incur a heavy debt, taught school 
during part of the time and in this and other 
ways helped maintain himself. In 1822 he 
removed to Buffalo, New York, and the year 
following, being admitted to the bar, he 
commenced the practice of his profession 
at East Aurora, in the same state. Here 
he remained until 1830, having, in the 
meantime, been admitted to practice in the 
supreme court, when he returned to Buffalo, 
where he became the partner of S. G. 
Haven and N. K. Hall. He entered poli- 
tics and served in the state legislature from 
1829 to 1832. He was in congress in 1833- 
35 and in 1837-41, where he proved an 
active and useful member, favoring the 
views of John Quincy Adams, then battling 
almost alone the slave-holding party in na- 
tional politics, and in most 01 public ques- 



tions acted with the Whig party. While 
chairman of the committee of ways and 
means he took a leading part in draughting 
the tariff bill of 1842. In 1844 Mr. Fill- 
more was the Whig candidate for governor 
of New York. In 1847 he was chosen 
comptroller of the state, and abandoning 
his practice and profession removed to Al- 
bany. In 1848 he was elected vice presi- 
dent on the ticket with General Zachary 
Taylor, and they were inaugurated the fol- 
lowing March. On the death of the presi- 
dent, July 9, 1850, Mr. Fillmore was in- 
ducted into that office. The great events 
of his administration were the passage of 
the famous compromise acts of 1850, and 
the sending out of the Japan expedition of 
1852. 

March 4, 1853, having served one term. 
President Fillmore retired from office, and 
in 1855 went to Europe, where he received 
marked attention. On returning home, in 
1856, he was nominated for the presidency 
by the Native American or "Know-Noth- 
ing" party, but was defeated, James Buch- 
anan being the successful candidate. 

Mr. Fillmore ever afterward lived in re- 
tirement. During the conflict of Civil war 
he was mostly silent. It was generally sup- 
posed, however, that his sympathy was with 
the southern confederacy. He kept aloof 
from the conflict without any words of cheer 
to the one party or the other. For this rea- 
son he was forgotten by both. He died of 
paralysis, in Buffalo, New York, March 8, 
1874- 

PETER F. ROTHERMEL, one of Amer- 
ica's greatest and best-known historical 
painters, was born in Luzerne county, Penn- 
sylvania, July 8, 1817, and was of Germaa 
ancestry. He received his earlier education 
in his native county, and in Philadelphia 



114 



COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY. 



learned the profession of land surveying. 
But a strong bias toward art drew him away 
and he soon opened a studio where he did 
portrait painting. This soon gave place to 
historical painting, he having discovered the 
bent of his genius in that direction. Be- 
sides the two pictures in the Capitol at 
Washington — "DeSoto Discovering the Mis- 
sissippi" and "Patrick Henry Before the 
Virginia House of Burgesses" — Rothermel 
painted many others, chief among which 
are: "Columbus Before Queen Isabella," 
"Martyrs of the Colosseum," "Cromwell 
Breaking Up Service in an English Church, " 
and the famous picture of the "Battle 
of Gettysburg." The last named was 
painted for the state of Pennsylvania, for 
which Rothermel received the sum of $25,- 
000, and which it took him four years to 
plan and to paint. It represents the portion 
of that historic field held by the First corps, 
an exclusively Pennsylvania body of men, 
and was selected by Rothermel for that 
reason. For many years most of his time 
was spent in Italy, only returning for short 
periods. He died at Philadelphia, August 
16, 1895. 

EDMUND KIRBY SMITH, one of the 
distinguished leaders upon the side of the 
south in the late Civil war, was born at St. 
Augustine, Florida, in 1824. After receiv- 
ing the usual education he was appointed to 
the United States Military Academy at West 
Point, from which he graduated in 1845 ^"d 
entered the army as second lieutenant of 
infantry. During the Mexican war he was 
made first lieutenant and captain for gallant 
conduct at Cerro Gordo and Contreras. 
From 1849 to 1852 he was assistant pro- 
fessor of mathematics at West Point. He 
was transferred to the Second cavalry with 
the rank of captain in 1855, served on the 



frontier, and was wounded in a fight with 
Comanche Indians in Texas, May 13, 1859. 
In January, 1861, he became major of his 
regiment, but resigned April 9th to fol- 
low the fortunes of the southern cause. 
He was appointed brigadier-general in the 
Confederate army and served in Virginia. 
At the battle of Bull Run, July 21, 1861, 
he arrived on the field late in the day, but 
was soon disabled by a wound. He was 
made major-general in 1862, and being trans- 
ferred to East Tennessee, was given com- 
mand of that department. Under General 
Braxton Bragg he led the advance in the 
invasion of Kentucky and defeated the Union 
forces at Richmond, Kentucky, August 30, 

1862, and advanced to Frankfort. Pro- 
moted to the rank of lieutenant-general, he 
was engaged at the battle of Perryville, 
October 10, and in the battle of Murfrees- 
boro, December 31, 1862, and January 3, 

1863. He was soon made general, the 
highest rank in the service, and in com- 
mand of the trans-Mississippi department 
opposed General N. P. Banks in the famous 
Red River expedition, taking part in the 
battle of Jenkins Ferry, April 30, 1864, and 
other engagements of that eventful cam- 
paign. He was the last to surrender the 
forces under his command, which he did 
May 26, 1865. After the close of the war 
he located in Tennessee, where he died 
March 28, 1893. 



JOHN JAMES INGALLS, a famous 
American statesman, was born Decem- 
ber 29, 1833, at Middleton, Massachusetts, 
where he was reared and received his early 
education. He went to Kansas in 1858 
and joined the free-soil army, and a year 
after his arrival he was a member of the his- 
torical Wyandotte convention, which drafted 
a free-state constitution. In i860 he was 



COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY. 



1'5 



made secretary of the territorial council, 
and in 1861 was secretary of the state sen- 
ate. The next year he was duly elected to 
the legitimate state senate from Atchison, 
where he had made his home. From that 
time he was the leader of the radical Re- 
publican element in the state. He became 
the editor of the " Atchison Champion " in 
1863, which was a "red-hot free-soil Re- 
publican organ." In 1862 he was the anti- 
Lane candidate for lieutenant-governor, but 
was defeated. He was elected to the Unit- 
ed States senate to succeed Senator Pom- 
eroy, and took his seat in the forty-third 
congress and served until the fiftieth. In 
the forty-ninth congress he succeeded Sen- 
ator Sherman as president pro tem., which 
position he held through the fiftieth con- 
gress. 

BENJAMIN WEST, the greatest of the 
early American painters, was of Eng- 
lish descent and Quaker parentage. He was 
born in Springfield, Pennsylvania, in 1738. 
From what source he inherited his genius it 
is hard to imagine, since the tenets and 
tendencies of the Quaker faith were not cal- 
culated to encourage the genius of art, but 
at the age of nine years, with no suggestion 
except that of inspiration, we find him choos- 
ing his model from life, and laboring over 
his first work calculated to attract public 
notice. It was a representation of a sleep- 
ing child in its cradle. The brush with 
which he painted it was made of hairs 
which he plucked from the cat's tail, and 
the colors were obtained from the war paints 
of friendly Indians, his mother's indigo bag, 
and ground chalk and charcoal, and the juice 
of berries, but there were touches in the rude 
production that he declared in later days 
were a credit to his best works. The pic- 
ture attracted notice, for a council was 



called at once to pass upon the boy's con- 
duct in thus infringing the laws of the so- 
ciety. There were judges among them who 
saw in his genius a rare gift and their wis- 
dom prevailed, and the child was given per- 
mission to follow his inclination. He studied 
under a painter named Williams, and then 
spent some years as a portrait painter with 
advancing success. At the age of twenty- 
two he went to Italy, and not until he had 
perfected himself by twenty-three years of 
labor in that paradise of art was he satisfied 
to turn his face toward home. However, he 
stopped at London, and decided to settle 
there, sending to America for his intended 
bride to join him. Though the Revolution- 
ary war was raging. King George III showed 
the American artist the highest considera- 
tion and regard. His remuneration from 
works for royalty amounted to five thou- 
sand dollars per year for thirty years. 

West's best known work in America is, 
perhaps, "The Death of General Wolf." 
West was one of the thirty-six original mem- 
bers of the Royal academy and succeeded 
Joshua Reynolds as president, which posi- 
tion he held until his death. His early 
works were his best, as he ceased to display 
originality in his later life, conventionality 
having seriously affected his efforts. He 
died in 1820. 



SAMUEL PORTER JONES, the famous 
Georgia evangelist, was born October 
16, 1847, in Chambers county, Alabama. 
He did not attend school regularly during 
his boyhood, but worked on a farm, and 
went to school at intervals, on account of 
ill health. His father removed to Carters- 
ville, Georgia, when Mr. Jones was a small 
boy. He quit school at the age of nineteen 
and never attended college. The war inter- 
fered with his education, which was intended 



116 



COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHT. 



to prepare him for the legal profession. 
After the war he renewed his preparation 
for college, but was compelled to desist from 
such a course, as his health failed him en- 
tirely. Later on, however, he still pursued 
his legal studies and was admitted to the 
bar. Soon after this event he went to Dal- 
las, Paulding county, Georgia, where he was 
engaged in the practice of his profession, 
and in a few months removed to Cherokee 
county, Alabama, where he taught school. 
In 1869 he returned to Cartersville, Georgia, 
and arrived in time to see his father die. 
Immediately after this event he applied for 
a license to preach, and went to Atlanta, 
Georgia, to the meeting of the North Geor- 
gia Conference of the M. E. church south, 
which received him on trial. He became 
an evangelist of great note, and traveled 
extensively, delivering his sermons in an 
inimitable style that made him very popular 
with the masses, his methods of conducting 
revivals being unique and original and his 
preaching practical and incisive. 



SHELBY MOORE CULLOM, a national 
character in political affairs and for 
many years United States senator from 
Illinois, was born November 22, 1829, at 
Monticello, Kentucky. He came with his 
parents to Illinois in 1830 and spent his early 
yearson afarm, but havingformed the purpose 
of devoting himself to the lawyer's profession 
he spent two years study at the Rock River 
seminary at Mount Morris, Illinois. In 1853 
Mr. Cullom entered the law office of Stuart 
and Edwards at Springfield, Illinois, and two 
years later he began the independent prac- 
tice of law in that city. He took an active 
interest in politics and was soon elected city 
attorney of Springfield. In 1856 he was 
elected a member of the Illinois house of 
representatives. He identified himself with 



the newly formed Republican party and in 
i860 was re-elected to the legislature of his 
state, in which he was chosen speaker of the 
house. In 1862 President Lincoln appoint- 
ed a commission to pass upon and e.xamine 
the accounts of the United States quarter- 
masters and disbursing officers, composed 
as follows: Shelby M. Cullom, of Illinois; 
Charles A. Dana, of New York, and 
Gov. Boutwell, of Massachusetts. Mr. 
Cullom was nominated for congress in 
1864, and was elected by a majority of 
1,785. In the house of representatives he 
became an active and aggressive member, 
was chairman of the committee on territories 
and served in congress until 1868. Mr. 
Cullom was returned to the state legislature, 
of which he was chosen speaker in 1872, 
and was re-elected in 1874. In 1876 he 
was elected governor of Illinois and at the 
end of his term he was chosen for a second 
term. He was elected United States senator 
in 1883 and twice re-elected. 



RICHARD JORDAN CATLING, an 
Am.erican inventor of much note, was 
born in Hertford county. North Carolina, 
September 12, 1 818. At an early age he 
gave promise of an inventive genius. The 
first emanation from his mind was the 
invention of a screw for the propulsion oi 
water craft, but on application for a 
patent, found that he was forestalled but 
a short time by John Ericsson. Subse- 
quently he invented a machine for sowing 
wheat in drills, which was used to a great 
extent throughout the west. He then stud- 
ied medicine, and in 1847-8 attended 
lectures at the Indiana Medical College 
at Laporte, and in 1848-9 at the Ohio 
Medical College at Cincinnati. He later 
discovered a method of transmitting power 
through the medium of compressed air. A 



COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY. 



119 



double-acting hemp break was also invented 
by him. The invention, however, by which 
Dr. Gatling became best known was the 
famous machine gun which bears his name. 
This he brought to light in 1861-62, and on 
the first trial of it, in the spring of the latter 
year, two hundred shots per minute were 
fired from it. After making some improve- 
ments which increased its efficiency, it was 
submitted to severe trials by our govern- 
ment at the arsenals at Frankfort, Wash- 
ington and Fortress Monroe, and at other 
points. The gun was finally adopted by 
our government, as well as by that of Great 
Britain, Russia and others. 



BENJAMIN RYAN TILLMAN, who won 
a national fame in politics, was born 
August II, 1847, in Edgefield county, South 
Carolina. He received his education in the 
Oldfield school, where he acquired the 
rudiments of Latin and Greek, in addition 
to a good English education. He left school 
in 1864 to join the Confederate army, but 
was prevented from doing so by a severe 
illness, which resulted in the loss of an eye. 
In 1867 he removed to Florida, but returned 
in 1868, when he was married and devoted 
himself to farming. He was chairman of 
the Democratic organization of his county, 
but except a few occasional services he took 
no active part in politics then. Gradually, 
however, his attention was directed to the 
depressed condition of the farming interests 
of his state, and in August, 1885, before a 
joint meeting of the agricultural society and 
state grange at Bennettsville, he made a 
speech in which he set forth the cause of 
agricultural depression and urged measures 
of relief. From his active interest in the 
farming class he was styled the "Agricult- 
ural Moses." He advocated an industrial 
school for women and for a separate agri- 



cultural college, and in 1887 he secured a 
modification in the final draft of the will of 
Thomas G. Clemson, which resulted in the 
erection of the Clemson Agricultural Col- 
lege at Fort Hill. In 1890 he was chosen 
governor on the Democratic ticket, and 
carried the election by a large majority. 
Governor Tillman was inaugurated Decem- 
ber 4, 1890. Mr. Tillman was next elected 
to the United States senate from South 
Carolina, and gained a national reputation 
by his fervid oratory. 



GEORGE DENISON PRENTICE.— 
No journalist of America was so cele- 
brated in his time for the wit, spice, and 
vigor of his writing, as the gentleman whose 
name heads this sketch. From Atlantic to 
Pacific he was well known by his witticism 
as well as by strength and force of his edi- 
torials. He was a native of Preston, Con- 
necticut, born December 18, 1802. After 
laying the foundation of a liberal education 
in his youth, he entered Brow.n University, 
from which he was graduated in 1823. Tak- 
ing up the study of law, he was admitted to 
the bar in 1829. During part of his time 
he was editor of the " New England Weekly 
Review," a position which he relinquished 
to go south and was succeeded by John 
Greenleaf Whittier, the Quaker poet. 

On arriving in Louisville, whither he 
had gone to gather items for his history of 
Henry Clay, Mr. Prentice became identified 
with the " Louisville Journal," which, under 
his hands, became one of the leading Whig 
newspapers of the country. At the head of 
this he remained until the day of his death. 
This latter event occurred January 22, 1870, 
and he was succeeded in the control of the 
"Journal" by Colonel Henry Watterson. 

Mr. Prentice was an author of consider- 
able celebrity, chief among his works being 



120 



COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHT. 



"The Life of Henry Clay," and "Prentice- 
ana," a collection of wit and humor, that 
passed through several large editions. 



SAM. HOUSTON, in the opinion of some 
critics one of the most remarkable men 
who ever figured in American history, was a 
native of Rockbridge county, Virginia, born 
March 2, 1793. Early in life he was left in 
destitute circumstances by the death of his 
father, and, with his mother, removed to 
Tennessee, then almost a boundless wilder- 
ness. He received but little education, 
spending the most of his time among the 
Cherokee Indians. Part of the time of his 
residence there Houston acted as clerk for a 
trader and also taught one of the primitive 
schools of the day. In 181 3 he enlisted as 
private in the United States army and was 
engaged under General Jackson in the war 
with the Creek Indians. When peace was 
made Houston was a lieutenant, but he re- 
signed his commission and commenced the 
study of law at Nashville. After holding 
some minor offices he was elected member 
of congress from Tennessee. This was in 
1823. He retained this office until 1827, 
when he was chosen governor of the state. 
In 1829, resigning that office before the ex- 
piration of his term, Sam Houston removed 
to Arkansas, and made his home among the 
Cherokees, becoming the agent of that 
tribe and representing their interests at 
Washington. On a visit to Texas, just 
prior to the election of delegates to a con- 
vention called for the purpose of drawing 
up a constitution previous to the admission 
of the state into the Mexican union, he was 
unanimously chosen a delegate. The con- 
vention framed the constitution, but, it be- 
ing rejected by the government of Mexico, 
and the petition for admission to the Con- 
federacy denied and the Texans told by the 



president of the Mexican union to give up 
their arms, bred trouble. It was determined 
to resist this demand. A military force was 
soon organized, with General Houston at 
the head of it. War was prosecuted with 
great vigor, and with varying success, but 
at the battle of San Jacinto, April 21, 1836, 
the Mexicans were defeated and their leader 
and president, Santa Anna, captured. Texas 
was then proclaimed an independent repub- 
lic, and in October of the same year Hous- 
ton was inaugurated president. On the ad- 
mission of Texas to the Federal Union, in 
1845, Houston was elected senator, and 
held that position for twelve years. Oppos- 
ing the idea of secession, he retired from 
political life in 1861, and died at Hunts- 
ville, Texas, July 25, 1863. 



ELI WHITNEY, the inventor of the cot- 
ton-gin, was born in Westborough, Mas- 
sachusetts, December 8, 1765. After his 
graduation from Yale College, he went to 
Georgia, where he studied law, and lived 
with the family of the widow of General 
Nathaniel Greene. At that time the only 
way known to separate the cotton seed from 
the fiber was by hand, making it extremely 
slow and expensive, and for this reason cot- 
ton was little cultivated in this country. 
Mrs. Greene urged the inventive Whitney 
to devise some means for accomplishing 
this work by machinery. This he finally 
succeeded in doing, but he was harassed by 
attempts to defraud him by those who had 
stolen his ideas. He at last formed a part- 
nership with a man named Miller, and they 
began the manufacture of the machines at 
Washington, Georgia, in 1795. The suc- 
cess of his invention was immediate, and the 
legislature of South Carolina voted the sum 
of $50,000 for his idea. This sum he had 
great difficulty in collecting, after years of 



COMPEXDIUM OF BIOGRAPHT. 



121 



litigation and delay. North Carolina al- 
lowed him a royalty, and the same was 
agreed to by Tennessee, but was never paid. 

While his fame rests upon the invention 
of the cotton-gin, his fortune catne from his 
improvements in the manufacture and con- 
struction of firearms. In 1798 the United 
States government gave him a contract for 
this purpose, and he accumulated a fortune 
from it. The town of Whitneyville, Con- 
necticut, was founded by this fortune. 
Whitney died at New Haven, Connecticut, 
January 8, 1825. 

The cotton-gin made the cultivation of 
cotton profitable, and this led to rapid in- 
trodiictiLMi of slavery in the south. His in- 
vention thus affected our national history in 
a manner little dreamed of by the inventor. 



LESTER WALLACIv (John Lester Wal- 
lack), for many years the leading light 
comedian upon the American stage, was 
the son of James W. Wallack, the " Brum- 
mell of the Stage." Both father and son 
were noted for their comeliness of feature 
and form. Lester Wallack was born in 
New York, January i, 18 19. He received 
his education in England, and made his first 
appearance on the stage in 1848 at the New 
Broadway theater, New York. He acted 
light comedy parts, and also occasion- 
ally in romantic plays like Monte Cristo, 
which play made him his fame. He went 
to England and played under management 
of such men as Hamblin and Burton, and then 
returned to New York with his father, who 
opened the first Wallack's theater, at the 
corner of Broome and Broadway, in 1852. 
The location was afterward changed to 
Thirteenth and Broadway, in 1861, and 
later to its present location, Broadway and 
Thirteenth, in 18S2. The elder Wallack 
died in 1S64, after which Lester assumed 



management, jointly with Theodore Moss. 
Lester Wallack was commissioned in the 
queen's service while in England, and there 
he also married a sister to the famous artist, 
the late John Everett Millais. While Les- 
ter Wallack never played in the interior 
cities, his name was as familiar to the public 
as that of our greatest stars. He died Sep- 
tember 6, 1888, at Stamford, Connecticut. 



GEORGE MORTIMER PULLMAN, 
the palace car magnate, inventor, 
multi-millionaire and manufacturer, may 
well be classed among the remarkable 
self-made men of the century. He was 
born March 3, i 831, in Chautauqua county. 
New York. His parents were poor, and 
his education was limited to what he could 
learn of the rudimentary branches in the 
district school. At the age of fourteen he 
went to work as clerk for a country mer- 
chant. He kept this place three years, 
studying at night. When seventeen he 
went to Albion, New York, and worked for 
his brother, who kept a cabinet shop there. 
Five years later he went into business for 
himself as contractor for moving buildings 
along the line of the Erie canal, which was 
then being widened by the state, and was 
successful in this. In 1858 he removed to 
Chicago and engaged in the business of 
moving and raising houses. The work was 
novel there then and he was quite success- 
ful. About this time the discomfort attend- 
ant on traveling at night attracted his at- 
tention. He reasoned that the public would 
gladly pay for comfortable sleeping accom- 
modations. A few sleeping cars were in 
use at that time, but they were wretchedly 
crude, uncomfortable affairs. In 1859 he 
bought two old day coaches from the Chi- 
cago & Alton road and remodeled them some- 
thing like the general plan of the sleepinp- 



122 



COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHT. 



cars of the present day. They were put 
into service on the Chicago & Alton and 
became popular at once. In 1863 he built 
the first sleeping-car resembling the Pullman 
cars of to-day. It cost $18,000 and was 
the "Pioneer." After that the Pullman 
Palace Car Company prospered. It had 
shops at different cities. In 1880 the Town 
of Pullman was founded by Mr. Pullman 
and his company, and this model manufac- 
turing community is known all over the 
■world. Mr. Pullman died October 19, 1897. 



JAMES E. B. STUART, the most famous 
cavalry leader of the Southern Confed- 
eracy during the Civil war, was born in 
Patrick county, Virginia, in 1833. On 
graduating from the United States Military 
Academy, West Point, in 1854, he was as- 
signed, as second lieutenant, to a regiment 
of mounted rifles, receiving his commission 
in October. In March, 1855, he was trans- 
ferred to the newly organized First cavalry, 
and was promoted to first lieutenant the 
following December, and to captain April 
22, 1 86 1. Taking the side of the south. 
May 14, 1 86 1, he was made colonel of a 
Virginia cavalry regiment, and served as 
such at Bull Run. In September, 1861, he 
was promoted to the rank of brigadier-gen- 
eral, and major-general early in 1862. On 
the reorganization of the Army of Northern 
Vire;mia, in June of the latter year, when 
R. E. Lee assumed command. General Stu- 
art made a reconnoissance with one thou- 
sand five hundred cavalry and four guns, 
and in two days made the circuit of McClel- 
lan's army, producing much confusion and 
gathering useful information, and losing but 
one man. August 25, 1862, he captured 
part of Pope's headquarters' train, including 
that general's private baggage and official 
correspondence, and the next night, in a 



descent upon Manasses, capturing immense 
quantities of commissary and quartermaster 
store, eight guns, a number of locomotives 
and a few hundred prisoners. During the 
invasion of Maryland, in September, 1862, 
General Stuart acted as rearguard, resisting 
the advance of the Federal cavalry at South 
Mountain, and at Antietam commanded the 
Confederate left. Shortly after he crossed 
the Potomac, making a raid as far as Cham- 
bersburg, Pennsylvania. In the battle of 
Fredericksburg, December 13, 1862, Gen- 
eral Stuart's command was on the extreme 
right of the Confederate line. At Chancel- 
lorsville, after "Stonewall " Jackson's death 
and the wounding of General A. P. Hill, 
General Stuart assumed command of Jack- 
son's corps, which he led in the severe con- 
test of May 3, 1863. Early in June, the 
same year, a large force of cavalry was 
gathered under Stuart, at Culpepper, Vir- 
ginia, which, advancing to join General Lee 
in his invasion of Pennsylvania, was met at 
Brandy Station, by two divisions of cavalry 
and two brigades of infantry, under General 
John I. Gregg, and driven back. During the 
movements of the Gettysburg campaign he 
rendered important services. In May, 1864, 
General Stuart succeeded, by a detour, in 
placing himself between Richmond and 
Sheridan's advancing column, and at Yellow 
Tavern was attacked in force. During the 
fierce conflict that ensued General Stuart 
was mortally wounded, and died at Rich- 
mond, May 1 1, 1864. 



FRANKLIN PIERCE, the fourteenth 
president of the United States — from 
1853 until 1857 — was born November 23, 
1804, at Hillsboro, New Hampshire. He 
came of old revolutionary stock and his 
father was a governor of the state. Mr. 
Pierce entered Bowdoin College in 1820, 



COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHT. 



123-. 



was graduated in 1824, and took up the 
study of law in the office of Judge Wood- 
bury, and later he was admitted to the bar. 
Mr. Pierce practiced his profession with 
varying successes in his native town and 
also in Concord. He was elected to the 
state legislature in 1833 and served in that 
body until 1837, the last two years of his 
term serving as speaker of the house. He 
was elected to the United States senate in 
1837, just as President Van Buren began 
his term of office. Mr. Pierce served until 
1842, and many times during Polk's term he 
declined important public offices. During 
the war with Mexico Mr. Pierce was ap- 
pointed brigadier-general, and he embarked 
with a portion of his troops at Newport, 
Rhode Island, May 27, 1847, and went with 
them to the field of battle. He served 
through the war and distinguished himself 
by his skill, bravery and excellent judg- 
ment. When he reached his home in his 
native state he was received coldly by the 
opponents of the war, but the advocates of 
the war made up for his cold reception by 
the enthusiastic welcome which they ac- 
corded him. Mr. Pierce resumed the prac- 
tice of his profession, and in the political 
strife that followed he gave his support to 
the pro-slavery wing of the Democratic 
party. The Democratic convention met in 
Baltimore, June 12, 1852, to nominate a 
candidate for the presidency, and they con- 
tinued in session four days, and in thirty- 
five ballotings no one had secured the re- 
quisite two-thirds vote. Mr. Pierce had not 
received a vote as yet, until the Virginia 
delegation brought his name forward, and 
finally on the forty-ninth ballot Mr, Pierce 
received 282 votes and all the other candi- 
dates eleven. His opponent on the Whig 
ticket was General Winfield Scott, who 
only received the electoral votes of four 



states. Mr. Pierce was inaugurated presi- 
dent of the United States March 4, 1853, 
with W. R. I'Cing as vice president, and the 
following named gentlemen were afterward 
chosen to fill the positions in the cabinet: 
William S. Marcy, James Guthrie, Jeffer- 
son Davis, James C. Dobbin, Robert Mc- 
Clelland, James Campbell and Caleb Gush- 
ing. During the administration of President 
Pierce the Missouri compromise law was 
repealed, and all the territories of the Union 
were thrown open to slavery, and the dis- 
turbances in Kansas occurred. In 1857 he 
was succeeded in the presidency by James 
Buchanan, and retired to his home in Con- 
cord, New Hampshire. He always cherished 
his principles of slavery, and at the out- 
break of the rebellion he was an adherent of 
the cause of the Confederacy. He died at 
Concord, New Hampshire, October 8, 1869. 



JAMES B. WEAVER, well known as a 
leader of the Greenback and later of the 
Populist party, was born at Dayton, Ohio, 
June 12, 1833. He received his earlier 
education in the schools of his native town, 
and entered the law department of the Ohio 
University, at Cincinnati, from which he 
graduated in 1854. Removing to the grow- 
ing state of Iowa, he became connected 
with "The Iowa Tribune," at the state 
capital, Des Moines, as one of its editors. 
He afterward practiced law and was elected 
district attorney for the second judicial dis- 
trict of Iowa, on the Republican ticket in 
1866, which office he held for a short time. 
In 1867 Mr. Weaver was appointed assessor 
of internal revenue for the first district of 
Iowa, and filled that position until some- 
time in 1873. He was elected and served 
in the forty-sixth congress. In 1880 the 
National or Greenback party in convention 
at Chicago, nominated James B. Weaver as. 



124 



COMPENDIUM OF BI0GRAPH7 . 



its candidate for the presidency. By a 
union of tlie Democratic and National 
parties in his district, he was elected to the 
forty-ninth congress, and re-elected to the 
same office in the fall of 1886. Mr. Weaver 
was conceded to be a very fluent speaker, 
and quite active in all political work. On 
July 4, 1892, at the National convention 
of the People's party, General James B. 
Weaver was chosen as the candidate for 
president of that organization, and during 
the campaign that followed, gained a na- 
tional reputation. 



ANTHONY JOSEPH DREXEL, one 
of the leading bankers and financiers of 
the United States, was born in Philadelphia, 
Pennsylvania, in 1826, and was the son of 
Francis M. Drexel, who had established 
the large banking institution of Drexel & 
Co. , so well known. The latter was a native 
of Dornbirn, in the Austrian Tyrol. He 
studied languages and fine arts at Turin, 
Italy. On returning to his mountain home, 
in 1809, and finding it in the hands of the 
French, he went to Switzerland and later 
to Paris. In 18 12, after a short visit home, 
he went to Berlin, where he studied paint- 
ing until 18 1 7, in which year he emigrated 
to America, and settled in Philadelphia. A 
few years later he went to Chili and Peru, 
where he executed some fine portraits of 
notable people, including General Simon 
Bolivar. After spending some time in Mex- 
ico, he returned to Philadelphia, and en- 
gaged in the banking business. In 1837 he 
founded the house of Drexel & Co. He 
died in 1837, and was succeeded by his two 
sons, Anthony J. and Francis A. His son, 
Anthony J. Drexel, Jr. , entered the bank 
when he was thirteen years of age, before he 
was through with his schooling, and after 
that the history of the banking business of 



which he was the head, was the history of his 
life. The New York house of Dre.xel, Mor- 
gan & Co. was established in 1 8 50; the 
Paris house, Drexel, Harjes & Co., in 1867. 
The Drexel banking houses have supplied 
land placed hundreds of millions of dollars 
n government, corporation, railroad and 
other loans and securities. The reputation 
of the houses has always been held on the 
highest plane. Mr. Drexel founded and 
heavily endowed the Drexel Institute, in 
Philadelphia, an institution to furnish better 
and wider avenues of employment to young 
people of both sexes. It has departments 
of arts, science, mechanical arts and domes- 
tic economy. Mr. Drexel, Jr., departed this 
life June 30, 1893. 



SAMUEL FINLEY BREESE MORSE, 
inventor of the recording telegraph in- 
strument, was born in Charlestown, Massa- 
chusetts, April 27, 1791. He graduated 
from Yale College in 18 10, and took up art 
as his profession. He went to London with 
the great American painter, Washington 
Allston, and studied in the Royal Academy 
under Benjamin West. His " Dying Her- 
cules," his first effort in sculpture, took the 
gold medal in 181 3. He returned to Amer- 
ica in 181 5 and continued to pursue his 
profession. He was greatly interested in 
scientific studies, which he carried on in 
connection with other labors. He founded 
the National Academy of Design and was 
many years its president. He returned to 
Europe and spent three years in study 
in the art centers, Rome, Florence, Venice 
and Paris. In 1832 he returned to America 
and while on the return voyage the idea of 
a recording telegraph apparatus occurred to 
him, and he made a drawing to represent his 
conception. He was the first to occupy the 
chair of fine arts in the University of New 



COMPEXDIi'M OF BIOGRAPHT. 



125 



York City, and in 1835 he set up his rude 
instrument in his room in the university. 
But it was not until after many years of 
discouragement and reverses of fortune that 
lie finally was successful in placing his inven- 
tion before the public. In 1844, by aid of 
the United States government, he had con- 
structed a telegraph line forty miles in length 
from Washington to Baltimore. Over this 
line the test was made, and the first tele- 
graphic message was flashed May 24, 1844, 
from the United States supreme court rooms 
to Baltimore. It read, "What hath God 
wrought!" His fame and fortune were es- 
tablished in an instant. Wealth and honors 
poured in upon him from that day. The 
nations of Europe vied with each other 
in honoring the great inventor with medals, 
titles and decorations, and the learned 
societies of Europe hastened to enroll his 
name upon their membership lists and confer 
degrees. In 1858 he was the recipient of an 
honor never accorded to an inventor before. 
The ten leading nations of Europe, at the 
suggestion of the Emporer Napoleon, ap- 
pointed representatives to an international 
congress, which convened at Paris for the 
special purpose of expressing gratitude of the 
nations, and they voted him a present of 
400,000 francs. 

Professor Morse was present at the unveil- 
ing of a bronze statue erected in his honor in 
Central Park, New York, in 1871. His last 
appearance in public was at the unveiling 
of the statue of Benjamin Franklin in New 
York in 1872, when he made the dedica- 
tory speech and unveiled the statue. He 
died April 2, 1873, in the city of New York. 



MORRISON REMICH WAITE, seventh 
chief justice of the United States, was 
born at Lyme, Connecticut, November 29, 
1 8 16. He was a graduate from Yale Col- 



lege in 1837, in the class with William M. 
Evarts. His father was judge of the su- 
preme court of errors of the state of Con- 
necticut, and in his office young Waite 
studied law. He subsequently removed to 
Ohio, and was elected to the legislature of 
that state in 1849. He removed from 
Maumee City to Toledo and became a prom- 
inent legal light in that state. He was 
nominated as a candidate for congress re- 
peatedly but declined to run, and also de- 
clined a place on the supreme bench of the 
state. He won great distinction for his able 
handling of the Alabama claims at Geneva, 
before the arbitration tribunal in 1871, and 
was appointed chief justice of the supreme 
court of the United States in 1874 on the 
death of Judge Chase. When, in 1876, elec- 
toral commissioners were chosen to decide 
the presidential election controversy between 
Tilden and Hayes, Judge Waite refused to 
serve on that commission. 

His death occurred March 23, 1SS8. 



ELISHA KENT KANE was one of the 
distinguished American explorers of the 
unknown regions of the frozen north, and 
gave to the world a more accurate knowl- 
edge of the Arctic zone. Dr. Kane was 
born February 3, 1820, at Philadelphia, 
Pennsylvania. He was a graduate of the 
universities of Virginia and Pennsylvania, 
and took his medical degree in 1843. He 
entered the service of the United States 
navy, and was physician to the Chinese 
embassy. Dr. Kane traveled extensively 
in the Levant, Asia and Western Africa, 
and also served in the Mexican war, in 
which he was severely wounded. His 
first Arctic expedition was under De Haven 
in the first Grinnell expedition in search 
of Sir John Franklin in 1S50. He com- 
manded the second Grinnell expedition 



126 



COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY. 



in 1853-55, and discovered an open polar 
sea. For this expedition he received a gold 
medal and other distinctions. He published' 
a narrative of his first polar expedition in 
1853, and in 1856 published two volumes 
relating to his second polar expedition. He 
was a man of active, enterprising and cour- 
ageous spirit. His health, which was al- 
ways delicate, was impaired by the hard- 
ships of his Arctic expeditions, from which 
he never fully recovered and from which he 
died February 16, 1857, at Havana. 



ELIZABETH CADY STANTON was a 
daughter of Judge Daniel Cady and 
Margaret Livingston, and was born Novem- 
ber 12, 1 81 5, at Johnstown, New York. She 
was educated at the Johnstown Academy, 
inhere she studied with a class of boys, and 
was fitted for college at the age of fifteen, 
nfter which she pursued her studies at Mrs. 
Willard's Seminary, at Troy. Her atten- 
tion was called to the disabilities of her sex 
by her own educational experiences, and 
through a study of Blackstone, Story, and 
Kent. Miss Cady was married to Henry B. 
Stanton in 1840, and accompanied him to 
the world's anti-slavery convention in Lon- 
don. While there she made the acquain- 
tance of Lucretia Mott. Mrs. Stanton 
resided at Boston until 1847, when the 
family moved to Seneca Falls, New York, 
and she and Lucretia Mott signed the first 
call for a woman's rights convention. The 
meeting was held at her place of residence 
July 19-20, 1848. This was the first oc- 
casion of a formal claim of suffrage for 
women that was made. Mrs. Stanton ad- 
dressed the New York legislature, in 1854, 
on the rights of married women, and in 
i860, in advocacy of the granting of di- 
vorce for drunkenness. She also addressed 
the legislature and the constitutional con- 



vention, and maintained that during the 
revision of the constitution the state was 
resolved into its original elements, and that 
all citizens had, therefore, a right to vote 
for the members of that convention. After 
1869 Mrs. Stanton frequently addressed 
congressional committees and state consti- 
tutional conventions, and she canvassed 
Kansas, Michigan, and other states when 
the question of woman suffrage was sub- 
mitted in those states. Mrs. Stanton was 
one of the editors of the " Revolution," and 
most of the calls and resolutions for con- 
ventions have come from her pen. She 
was president of the national committee, 
also of the Woman's Loyal League, and 
of the National Association, for many years. 



DAVID DUDLEY FIELD, a great 
American jurist, was born in Connecti- 
cut in 1805. He env^.ca Williams College 
when sixteen years old, and commenced the 
study of law in 1S25. In 1828 he was ad- 
mitted to the bar, and went to New York, 
where he soon came into prominence be- 
fore the bar<of that state. He entered upon 
the labor of reforming the practice and 
procedure, which was then based upon the 
common law practice of England, and had 
become extremely complicated, difficult and 
uncertain in its application. His first paper 
on this subject was published in 1S39, and 
after eight years of continuous efforts in this 
direction, he was appointed one of a com- 
mission by New York to reform the practice 
of that state. The result was embodied in 
the two codes of procedure, civil and crimi- 
nal, the first of which was adopted almost 
entire by the state of New York, and has 
since been adopted by more than half the 
states in the Union, and became the basis 
of the new practice and procedure in Eng- 
land, contained in the Judicature act. He 



COMPENBIUM OF BTOGRAPHT. 



127 



was later appointed chairman of a new com- 
mission to codify the entire body of laws. 
This great work employed many years in its 
completion, but when finished it embraced 
a civil, penal, and political code, covering 
the entire field of American laws, statutory 
and common. This great body of law was 
adopted by California and Dakota territory 
in its entirety, and many other states have 
since adopted its substance. In 1867 the 
British Association for Social Science heard 
a proposition from Mr. Field to prepare an 
international code. This led to the prepara- 
tion of his " Draft Outlines of an Interna- 
tional Code," which was in fact a complete 
body of international laws, and introduced 
the principle of arbitration. Other of his 
codes of the state of New York have since 
been adopted by that state. 

In addition to his great works on law, 
Mr. Field indulged his literary tastes by fre- 
quent contributions to general literature, 
and his articles on travels, literature, and 
the political questions of the hour gave 
him rank with the best writers of his time. 
His father was the Rev. David Dudley Field, 
and his brothers were Cyrus W. Field, Rev. 
Henry Martin Field, and Justice Stephen 
J. Field of the United States supreme 
court. David Dudley Field died at New 
York, April 13, 1894. 



HENRY M. TELLER, a celebrated 
American politician, and secretary of 
the interior under President Arthur, was born 
May 23, 1830, in Allegany county. New 
York. He was of Hollandish ancestry and 
received an excellent education, after which 
he took up the study of law and was ad- 
mitted to the bar in the state of New York. 
Mr. Teller removed to Illinois in January, 
1858, and practiced for three years in that 
state. From thence he moved to Colorado 



in 1 86 1 and located at Central City, which 
was then one of the principal mining towns 
in the state. His exceptional abilities as 
a lawyer soon brought him into prominence 
and gained for him a numerous and profit- 
able clientage. In politics he affiliated with 
the Republican party, but declined to become 
a candidate for office until the admission of 
Colorado into the Union as a state, when 
he was elected to the United States senate. 
Mr. Teller drew the term ending March 
4, 1877, but was re-elected December 11, 
1876, and served until April 17, 1882, when 
he was appointed by President Arthur as 
secretary of the interior. He accepted a 
cabinet position with reluctance, and on 
March 3, 1885, he retired from the cabinet, 
having been elected to the senate a short 
time before to succeed Nathaniel P. Hill. 
Mr. Teller took his seat on March 4, 1885, 
in the senate, to which he was afterward 
re-elected. He served as chairman on the 
committee of pensions, patents, mines and 
mining, and was also a member of commit- 
tees on claims, railroads, privileges and 
elections and public lands. Mr. Teller came 
to be recognized as one of the ablest advo- 
cates of the silver cause. He was one of the 
delegates to the Republican National conven- 
tion at St. Louis in 1896, in which he took 
an active part and tried to have a silver 
plank inserted in the platform of the party. 
Failing in this he felt impelled to bolt the 
convention, which he did and joined forces 
with the great silver movement in the cam- 
paign which followed, being recognized in 
that campaign as one of the most able and 
eminent advocates of "silver" in America. 



JOHN ERICSSON, an eminent inven- 
tor and machinist, who won fame in 
America, was born in Sweden, July 31,1 803. 
In early childhood he evinced a decided in- 



128 



COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHT. 



ciination to mechanical pursuits, and at the 
age of eleven he was appointed to a cadet- 
ship in the engineer corps, and at the age of 
seventeen was promoted to a lieutenancy. 
In 1826 he introduced a "flame engine," 
ivhich he had invented, and offered it to 
Bnglish capitalists, but it was found that it 
could be operated only by the use of wood 
for fuel. Shortly after this he resigned his 
commission in the army of Sweden, and de- 
voted himself to mechanical pursuits. He 
discovered and introduced the principle of 
artificial draughts in steam boilers, and re- 
ceived a prize of two thousand five hundred 
dollars for his locomotive, the "Novelty," 
which attained a great speed, for that day. 
The artificial draught effected a great saving 
in fuel and made unnecessary the huge 
smoke-stacks formerly used, and the princi- 
ple is still applied, in modified form, in boil- 
ers. He also invented a steam fire-engine, 
and later a hot-air engine, which he at- 
tempted to apply in the operation of his 
ship, "Ericsson," but as it did not give the 
speed required, he abandoned it, but after- 
wards applied it to machinery for pumping, 
hoisting, etc. 

Ericsson was first to apply the screw 
propeller to navigation. The English peo- 
ple not receiving this new departure readily, 
Ericsson came to America in 1839, and 
built the United States steamer, "Prince- 
ton," in which the screw-propeller was util- 
ized, the first steamer ever built in which 
the propeller was under water, out of range 
of the enemy's shots. The achievement 
which gave him greatest renown, however, 
was the ironclad vessel, the "Monitor," an 
eitirely new type of vessel, which, in March, 
i?62, attacked the Confederate monster 
ircnclad ram, ' ' Virginia, " and after a fierce 
struggle, compelled her to withdraw from 
Hampton Roads for repairs. After the war 



one of his most noted inventions was his 
vessel, " Destroyer," with a submarine gun, 
which carried a projectile torpedo. In 1886 
the king of Spain conferred on him the 
grand cross of the Order of Naval Merit. 
He died in March, 1889, and his body was 
transferred, with naval honors, to the country 
of his birth. 

JAMES BUCHANAN, the fifteenth presi- 
dent of the United States, was a native 
of Pennsylvania, and was born in Franklin 
county, April 23, 1791. He was of Irish 
ancestry, his father having come to this 
country in 1783, in quite humble circum- 
stances, and settled in the western part of 
the Keystone state. 

James Buchanan remained in his se- 
cluded home for eight years, enjoying but 
few social or intellectual advantages. His 
parents were industrious and frugal, and 
prospered, and, in 1799, the family removed 
to Mercersbur Pennsylvania, where he 
was placed in school. His progress was 
rapid, and in i8oi he entered Dickinson 
College, at Carlisle, where he took his place 
among the best scholars in the institution. 
In 1809 he graduated with the highest hon- 
ors in his class. He was then eighteen, tall, 
graceful and in vigorous health. He com- 
menced the study of law at Lancaster, and 
was admitted to the bar in 1812. He rose 
very rapidly in his profession and took a 
stand with the ablest of his fellow lawyers. 
When but twenty-six years old he success- 
fully defended, unaided by counsel, one of 
the judges of the state who was before the 
bar of the state senate under articles of im- 
peachment. 

During the war of 1812-15, Mr. Buch- 
anan sustained the government with all his 
power, eloquently urging the vigorous prose- 
cution of the war, and enlisted as a private 



COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHT. 



129 



volunteer to assist in repelling the British 
who had sacked and burned the public 
buildings of Washington and threatened 
Baltimore. At that time Buchanan was 
a Federalist, but the opposition of that 
party to the war with Great Britain and the 
alien and sedition laws of John Adams, 
brought that party into disrepute, and drove 
many, among them Buchanan, into the Re- 
publican, or anti-Federalist ranks. He was 
elected to congress in 1828. In 1831 he 
was sent as minister to Russia, and upon 
his return to this country, in 1833, was ele- 
vated to the United States senate, and re- 
mained in that position for twelve years. 
Upon the accession of President Polk to 
office he made Mr. Buchanan secretary of 
state. Four years later he retired to pri- 
vate life, and in 1853 he was honored with 
the mission to England. In 1856 the na- 
tional Democratic convention nominated 
him for the presidency and he was elected. 
It was during his administration that the 
rising tide of the secession movement over- 
took the country. Mr. Buchanan declared 
that the national constitution gave him no 
power to do anything against the movement 
to break up the Union. After his succession 
by Abraham Lincoln in i860, Mr. Buchanan 
retired to his home at Wheatland, Pennsyl- 
vania, where he died June i, 1868. 



JOHN HARVARD, the founder of the 
Harvard University, was born in Eng- 
land about the year 1608. He received his 
education at Emanuel College, Cambridge, 
and came to America in 1637, settling in 
Massachusetts. He was a non-conformist 
minister, and a tract of land was set aside 
for him in Charlestown, near Boston. He 
was at once appointed one of a committee to 
formulate a body of laws for the colony. 
One year before his arrival in the colony 



the general court had voted the sum of four 
hundred pounds toward the establishment of 
a school or college, half of which was to be 
paid the next year In 1637 preliminary 
plans were made for starting the school. In 
1638 John Harvard, who had shown great 
interest in the new institution o^ learning 
proposed, died, leaving his entire property, 
about twice the sum originally voted, to the 
school, together with three hundred volumes 
as a nucleus for a library. The institution 
was then given the name of Harvard, and 
established at Newton (now Cambridge), 
Massachusetts. It grew to be one of the two 
principal seats of learning in the new world, 
and has maintained its reputation since. It 
now consists of twenty-two separate build- 
ings, and its curriculum embraces over one 
hundred and seventy elective courses, and it 
ranks among the great universities of the 
world. 

ROGER BROOKE TANEY, a noted 
jurist and chief justice of the United 
States supreme court, was born in Calvert 
county, Maryland, March 17, 1777. He 
graduated fiom Dickinson College at the 
age of eighteen, took up the study of law, 
and was admitted to the bar in 1799. He 
was chosen to the legislature from his county, 
and in 1801 removed to Frederick, Mary- 
land. He became United States senator 
from Maryland in 18 16, and took up his 
permanent residence in Baltimore a few 
years later. In 1824 he became an ardent 
admirer and supporter of Andrew Jackson, 
and upon Jackson's election to the presi- 
dency, was appointed attorney general of 
the United States. Two years later he was 
appointed secretary of the treasury, and 
after serving in that capacity for nearly one 
year, the senate refused to confirm the ap- 
pointment. In 1835, upon the death of 



ISO 



COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHT. 



Chief-justice Marshall, he was appointed to 
that place, and a political change having 
occurred in the make up of the senate, he 
was confirmed in 1836. He presided at 
his first session in January of the following 
year. 

The case which suggests itself first to 
the average reader in connection with this 
jurist is the celebrated " Dred Scott " case, 
which came before the supreme court for 
decision in 1856. In his opinion, delivered 
on behalf of a majority of the court, one 
remarkable statement occurs as a result of 
an exhaustive survey of the historical 
grounds, to the effect that " for more than 
a century prior to the adoption of the con- 
stitution they (Africans) had been regarded 
so far inferior that they had no rights which 
a white man was bound to respect." Judge 
Taney retained the office of chief justice 
until his dtaih, in 1864. 



JOHN LOTHROP MOTLEY.— This gen- 
tleman had a world-wide reputation as 
an historian, which placed him in the front 
rank of the great men of America. He was 
born April 15, 18 14, at Dorchester, Massa- 
chusetts, was given a thorough prepare. tory 
education and then attended Harvard, from 
which he was graduated in 183 1. He also 
studied at Gottingen and Berlin, read law 
and in 1836 was admitted to the bar. In 
1 84 1 he was appointed secretary of the 
legation at St. Petersburg, and in 1866-67 
served as United States minister to Austria, 
serving in the same capacity during 1869 
and 1870 to England. In 1856, after long 
and e.xliau tive research and prep-iration,he 
published ill London "The Rise of the 
Dutch Rspiibl c." It embraced three vol- 
umes and im nediately attracted great at- 
tention throughout Europe and America as 
a work of unusual merit. From 1861 to 



1868 he produced "The History of the 
United Netherlands," in four volumes. 
Other works followed, with equal success, 
and his position as one of the foremost his- 
torians and writers of his day was firmly 
established. His death occured May 29, 
1877- 

ELIAS HOWE, the inventor of the sew- 
ing machine, well deserves to be classed 
among the great and noted men of Amer- 
ica. He was the son of a miller and farmer 
and was born at Spencer, Massachusetts, 
July 9, 1819. In 1835 he went to Lowell 
and worked there, and later at Boston, in the 
machine shops. His first sewing machine 
was completed in 1 845 , and he patented it in 
1846, laboring with the greatest persistency 
in spite of poverty and hardsh p5, working 
for a time as an engine driver on a railroad 
at pauper wages and with broken health. 
He then spent two years of unsuccessful ex- 
ertion in England, striving in vain to bring 
his invention into public notice and use. 
He returned to the United States in almost 
hopeless poverty, to find that his patent 
had been violated. At last, however, he 
found friends who assisted him financially, 
and after years of litigation he made good 
his claims in the courts in 1854. His inven- 
tion afterward brought him a large fortune. 
During the Civil war he volunteered as a 
private in the Seventeenth Connecticut Vol- 
unteers, and served for some time. During 
his life time he received the cross of the 
Legion of Honor and many other medals. 
His death occurred October 3, 1S67, at 
Brooklyn, New York. 



PHILLIPS BROOKS, celebrated as an 
eloquent preacher and able pulpit ora- 
tor, was born in Boston on the 13th day of 
Decem.bcr, 1835. He received excellent 



COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY. 



181 



educational advantages, and graduated at 
Harvard in 1855. Early in life he decided 
upon the ministry as his life work and 
studied theology in the Episcopal Theolog- 
ical Seminary, at Alexandria, Virginia. In 
1859 he was ordained and the same year 
became pastor of the Church of the Advent, 
in Philadelphia. Three years later he as- 
sumed the pastorate of the Church of the 
Holy Trinity, where he remained until 1870. 
At the expiration of that time he accepted 
the pastoral charge of Trinity Church in 
Boston, where his eloquence and ability at- 
tracted much attention and built up a pow- 
erful church organization. Dr. Brooks also 
devoted considerable time to lecturing and 
literary work and attained prominence in 
these lines. 

WILLIAM B. ALLISON, a statesman 
of national reputation and one of the 
leaders of the Republican party, was born 
March 2, 1829, at Perry, Ohio. He grew 
up on his father's farm, which he assisted 
in cultivating, and attended the district 
school. When sixteen years old he went 
to the academy at Wooster, and subse- 
quently spent a year at the Allegheny Col- 
lege, at Meadville, Pennsylvania. He next 
taught school and spent another year at the 
Western Reserve College, at Hudson, Ohio. 
Mr. Allison then took up the study of law 
at Wooster, where he was admitted to the 
bar in 1 85 1, and soon obtained a position 
as deputy county clerk. His political lean- 
ings were toward the old line Whigs, who 
afterward laid the foundation of the Repub- 
lican party. He was a delegate to the state 
convention in 1856, in the campaign of 
which he supported Fremont for president. 
Mr Allison removed to Dubuque, Iowa, 
in the following year. He rapidly rose to 
prominence at the bar and in politics. In 



i860 he was chosen as a delegate to the 
Republican convention held in Chicago, of 
which he was elected one of the secretaries. 
At the outbreak of the civil war he was ap- 
pointed on the staff of the governor. His 
congressional career opened in 1862, when 
he was elected to the thirty-eighth congress; 
he was re-elected three times, serving from 
March 4, 1863, to March 3, 1871. He was 
a member of the ways and means committee 
a good part of his term. His career in the 
United States senate began in 1873, and he 
rapidly rose to eminence in national affairs, 
his service of a quarter of a century in that 
body being marked by close fealty to the 
Republican party. He twice declined the 
portfolio of the treasury tendered him by 
Garfield and Harrison, and his name was 
prominently mentioned for the presidency 
at several national Republican conventions. 



M 



ARY ASHTON LIVERMORE, lec- 
turer and writer, was born in Boston, 
December 19, 1821. She was the daughter 
of Timothy Rice, and married D.- P. Liver- 
more, a preacher of the Universalist church. 
She contributed able articles to many of the 
most noted periodicals of this country and 
England. During the Civil war she labored 
zealously and with success on behalf of the 
sanitary commission which played so impor- 
tant a part during that great struggle. She 
became editor of the " Woman's Journal," 
published at Boston in 1870. 

She held a prominent place as a public 
speaker and writer on woman's suffrage, 
temperance, social and religious questions, 
and her influence was great in every cause 
she advocated. 



JOHN B. GOUGH, a noted temperance 
lecturer, who won his fame in America, 
was born in the village of Sandgate, Kent, 



132 



COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHl'. 



England, August 22, 1817. He came to 
the United States at the age of twelve. 
He followed the trade of bookbinder, and 
lived in great poverty on account of the 
liquor habit. In 1843, however, he re- 
formed, and began his career as a temper- 
ance lecturer. He worked zealously in the 
cause of temperance, and his lectures and 
published articles revealed great earnestness. 
He formed temperance societies throughout 
the entire country, and labored with great 
success. He visited England in the same 
cause about the year 1853 and again in 
1878. He also lectured upon many other 
topics, in which he attained a wide reputa- 
tion. His death occurred February 18, 
1886. 

THOMAS BUCHANAN READ, author, 
sculptor and painter, was born in Ches- 
ter county, Pennsylvania, March 12, 1822. 
He early evinced a taste for art, and began 
the study of sculpture in Cincinnati. Later 
he found painting more to his liking. He 
went to New York, where he followed this 
profession, and later to Boston. In 1846 
he located in Philadelphia. He visited 
Italy in 1850, and studied at Florence, 
where he resided almost continuously for 
twenty-two years. He returned to America 
in 1872, and died in New York May 11 of 
the same year. 

He was the author of many heroic 
poems, but the one giving him the most re- 
nown is his famous "Sheridan's Ride," of 
which he has also left a representation in 
painting. 

EUGENE V. DEBS, the former famous 
president of the American Railway 
Union, and great labor leader, was born in 
the city of Terre Haute, Indiana, in 1855. 
He received his education in the public 



schools of that place and at the age of 
sixteen years began work as a painter in 
the Vandalia shops. After this, for some 
three years, he was employed as a loco- 
motive fireman on the same road. His 
first appearance in public life was in his 
canvass for the election to the office of city 
clerk of Terre Haute. In this capacity he 
served two terms, and when twenty si.x 
years of age was elected a member of the 
legislature of the state of Indiana. While 
a member of that body he secured the 
passage of several bills in the interest of 
organized labor, of which he was always 
a faithful champion. Mr. Debs' speech 
nominating Daniel Voorhees for the United 
States senate gave him a wide reputation for 
oratory. On the expiration of his term in 
the legislature, he was elected grand secre- 
tary and treasurer of the Brotherhood of 
Locomotive Fireman and filled that office 
for fourteen successive years. He was 
always an earnest advocate of confederation 
of railroad men and it was mainly through 
his efforts that the United Order of Railway 
Employes, composed of the Brotherhood 
of Railway Trainmen and Conductors, 
Brotherhood of Locomotive Firemen and 
the Switchmen's Mutual Aid Association was 
formed, and he became a member of its 
supreme council. The order was dissolved 
by disagreement between two of its leading 
orders, and then Mr. Debs conceived the 
idea of the American Railway Union. He 
worked on the details and the union came 
into existence in Chicago, June 20, 1893. For 
a time it prospered and became one of the 
largest bodies of railway men in the world. 
It won in a contest with the Great Northern 
Railway. In the strike made by the union 
in sympathy with the Pullman employes 
inaugurated in Chicago June 25, 1894, and 
the consequent rioting, the Railway Union 



COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY. 



183 



lost much prestige and Mr. Debs, in company 
with others of the officers, being held as in con- 
tempt of the United States courts, he suffered 
a sentence of six months in jail at Wood- 
stock, McHenry county, Illinois. In 1897 
Mr. Debs, on the demise of the American 
Railway Union, organized the Social 
Democracy, an institution founded on the 
best lines of the communistic idea, which 
was to provide homes and employment for 
its members. 



JOHN G. CARLISLE, famous as a law- 
yer, congressman, senator and cabinet 
officer, was born in Campbell (now Kenton) 
county, Kentucky, September 5, 1835, on a 
farm. He received the usual education of 
the time and began at an early age to teach 
school and, at the same time, the study of 
law. Soon opportunity offered and he 
entered an office in Covington, Kentucky, 
and was admitted to practice at the bar in 
1858. Politics attracted his attention and 
in 1859 he was elected to the house of rep- 
resentatives in the legislature of his native 
state. On the outbreak of the war in 1861, 
he embraced the cause of the Union and was 
largely instrumental in preserving Kentucky 
to the federal cause. He resumed his legal 
practice for a time and declined a nomina- 
tion as presidential elector in 1864. In 
1866 and again in 1869 Mr. Carlisle was 
elected to the senate of Kentucky. He re- 
signed this position in 1871 and was chosen 
lieutenant governor of the state, which office 
he iield until 1S75. He was one of the 
presidential electors-at-large for Ken- 
tucky in 1876. He first entered congress in 
1877, and soon became a prominent leader 
on the Democratic side of the house of rep- 
resentatives, and continued a member of 
that body through the forty-sixth, forty- 
seventh, forty-eighth and forty-ninth con- 



gresses, and was speaker of the house during 
the two latter. He was elected to the 
United States senate to succeed Senator 
Blackburn, and remained a member of that 
branch of congress until March, 1893, when 
he was appointed secretary of the treasury. 
He performed the duties of that high office 
until March 4, 1897, throughout the en- 
tire second administration of President 
Cleveland. His ability and many years of 
public service gave him a national reputa- 
tion. 



FRANCES E. WILLARD, for many years 
president of the -Woman's Christian 
Temperance Union, and a noted American 
lecturer and writer, was born in Rochester, 
New York, September 28, 1839. Graduating 
from the Northwestern Female College at the 
age of nineteen she began teaching and met 
with great success in many cities of the west. 
She was made directress of Genesee Wes- 
leyan Seminary at Lima, Ohio, in 1867, and 
four years later was elected president of the 
Evanston College for young ladies, a branch 
of the Northwestern University. 

During the two years succeeding 1869 
she traveled extensively in Europe and the 
east, visiting Egypt and Palestine, and 
gathering materials for a valuable course of 
lectures, which she delivered at Chicago on 
her return. She became very popular, and 
won great influence in the temperance 
cause. Her work as president of the Wo- 
man's Christian Temperance Union greatly 
strengthened that society, and she made 
frequent trips to Europe in the mterest of 
that cause. 

RICHARD OLNEY.— Among the promi- 
nent men who were members of the 
cabinet of President Cleveland in his second 
administration, the gentleman whose nama 



134 



COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHT. 



heads this sketch held a leading place, oc- 
cupying the positions of attorney general 
and secretary of state. 

Mr. Olney came from one of the oldest 
and most honored New England families; 
the first of his ancestors to come from Eng- 
land settled in Massachusetts in 1635. This 
was Thomas Olney. He was a friend and 
co-religionist of Roger Williams, and when 
the latter moved to what is now Rhode 
feland, went with him and became one of 
the founders of Providence Plantations. 

Richard Olney was born in Oxford, 
Massachusetts, in 1835, and received the 
elements of his earlier education in the com- 
mon schools which New England is so proud 
of. He entered Brown University, from 
which he graduated in 1856, and passed the 
Harvard law school two years later. He 
began the practice of his profession with 
Judge B. F. Thomas, a prominent man of 
that locality. For years Richard Olney was 
regarded as one of the ablest and most 
learned lawyers in Massachusetts. Twice 
he was offered a place on the bench of the 
supreme court of the state, but both times 
he declined. He was always a Democrat 
in his political tenets, and for many years 
was a trusted counsellor of members of that 
party. In 1874 Mr. Olney was elected a 
member of the legislature. In 1876, during 
the heated presidential campaign, to 
strengthen the cause of Mr. Tilden in the 
New England states, it was intimated that 
in the event of that gentleman's election to 
the presidency, Mr. Olney would be attor- 
sey general. 

When Grover Cleveland was elected presi- 
(^'^nt of the United States, on his inaugura- 
tion in March, 1893, he tendered the posi- 
tion of attorney general to Richard Olney. 
This was accepted, and that gentleman ful- 
filled the duties of the office until the death 



of Walter Q. Gresham, in May, 1895, made 
vacant the position of secretary of state. 
This post was filled by the appointment of 
Mr. Olney. While occupying the later 
office, Mr. Olney brought himself into inter- 
national prominence by some very able state 
papers. 

JOHN JAY KNOX, for many years comp- 
troller of the currency, and an eminent 
financier, was born in Knoxboro, Oneida 
county. New York, May 19, 1828. He re- 
ceived a good education and graduated at 
Hamilton College in 1849. For about 
thirteen years he was engaged as a private 
banker, or in a position in a bank, where 
he laid the foundation of his knowledge of 
the laws of finance. In 1862, Salmon P. 
Chase, then secretary of the treasury, ap- 
pointed him to an office in that department 
of the government, and later he had charge 
of the mint coinage correspondence. In 1 867 
Mr. Knox was made deputy comptroller 
of the currency, and in that capacity, in 
1870, he made two reports on the mint 
service, with a codification of the mint and 
ccinage laws of the United States, and 
suggesting many important amendments 
These reports were ordered printed by reso- 
lution of congress. The bill which he pre- 
pared, with some slight changes, was sub- 
sequently passed, and has been known in 
history as the " Coinage Act of 1873." 

In 1872 Mr. Knox wss appointed comp- 
troller of the currency, and held that re- 
sponsible position until 1884, when he re- 
signed. He then accepted the position of 
president of the National Bank of the Re- 
public, of New York City, which institution 
he served for many years. He was the 
author of " United States Notes," published 
in 1884. In the reports spoken of above, a 
history of the two United States banks is 



COMPENDIUM OF BJOGRAPHT. 



135 



given, together with that of the state and 
national banking system, and much valuable 
statistical matter relating to kindred sub- 
jects. 

NATHANIEL HAWTHORNE.— In the 
opinion of many critics Hawthorne is 
pronounced the foremost American novelist, 
and in his peculiar vein of romance is said 
to be without a peer. His reputation is 
world-wide, and his ability as a writer is 
recognized abroad as well as at home. 
He was born July 4, 1804, at Salem, Massa- 
chusetts. On account of feeble health he 
spent some years of his boyhood on a farm 
near Raymond, Maine. He laid the foun- 
dation of a liberal education in his youth, 
and entered Bowdoin College, from which 
he graduated in 1825 in the same class with 
H W Longfellow and John S. C. Abbott. 
He then returned to Salem, where he gave 
his attention to literature, publishing several 
tales and other articles in various periodi- 
cals. His first venture in the field of ro- 
mance, " Fanshaw,'' proved a failure. In 
1836 he removed to Boston, and became 
editor of the "American Magazine," which 
soon passed out of existence. In 1837 he 
published "Twice Told Tales," which were 
chiefly made up of his former contributions 
to magazines. In 1838-41 he held a posi- 
tion in the Boston custom house, but later 
took part in tlie " Brook farm experiment," 
a socialistic idea after the plan of Fourier. 
In 1843 he was married and took up his 
residence at the old parsonage at Concord, 
Massachusetts, which he immortalized in 
his next work, " Mosses From an Old 
Manse," published in 1846. From the lat- 
ter date until 1850 he was surveyor of the 
port of Salem, and while thus employed 
wrote one of his strongest works, "The 
Scarlet Letter." For the succeeding two 



years Lenox, Massachusetts, was his home, 
and the " House of the Seven Gables" was 
produced there, as well as the " Blithedale 
Romance." In 1852 he published a "Life 
of Franklin Pierce," a college friend whom 
he warmly regarded. In 1853 he was ap- 
pointed United States consul to Liverpool, 
England, where he remained some years, 
after which he spent some time in Italy. 
On returning to his native land he took up 
his residence at Concord, Massachusetts. 
While taking a trip for his health with ex- 
President Pierce, he died at Plymouth, New 
Hampshire, May 19, 1864. In addition to 
the works mentioned above Mr. Hawthorne 
gave to the world the following books: 
" True Stories from History," "The Won- 
der Book," " The Snow Image," "Tangle- 
wood Tales," "The Marble Faun," and 
" Our Old Home. " After his death appeared 
a series of "Notebooks," edited by his wife, 
Sophia P. Hawthorne; " Septimius Felton," 
edited by his daughter, Una, and " Dr. 
Grimshaw's Secret," put into shape by his 
talented son, Julian. He left an unfinished 
work called " Dolliver Romance," which has 
been published just as he left it. 



ABRAHAM LINCOLN, sixteenth presi- 
dent of the United States, was born 
February 12, 1809, in Larue county (Har- 
din county), Kentucky, in a log-cabin near 
Hudgensville. When he was eight years 
old he removed with his parents to Indiana, 
near the Ohio river, and a year later his 
mother died. His father then married Mrs. 
Elizabeth (Bush) Johnston, of Elizabeth- 
town, Kentucky, who proved a kind of fos- 
ter-mother to Abraham, and encouraged 
him to study. He worked as a farm hand 
and as a clerk in a store at Gentry ville, and 
was noted for his athletic feats and strength, 
fondness for debate, a fund of humorous 



136 



COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHT. 



anecdote, as well as the composition of rude 
verses. He made a trip at the age of nine- 
teen to New Orleans on a flat-boat, and set- 
tled in Illinois in 1830. He assisted his 
father to build a log house and clear a farm 
on the Sangamon river near Decatur, Illinois, 
and split the rails with which to fence it. In 
185 1 he was employed in the building of a 
flat-boat on the Sangamon, and to run it to 
New Orleans. The voyage gave him a new 
insight into the horrors of slavery in the 
south. On his return he settled at New 
Salem and engaged, first as a clerk in a store, 
then as giocer, surveyor and postmaster, and 
he piloted the first steamboat that as- 
cended the Sangamon. He participated in 
the Black Hawk war as captain of volun- 
teers, and after his return he studied law, 
interested himself in politics, and became 
prominent locally as a public speaker. He 
was elected to the legislature in 1834 as a 
'• Clay Whig, " and began at once to dis- 
play a command of language and forcible 
rhetoric that made him a match for his 
more cultured opponents. He was ad- 
mitted to the bqr in 1837, and began prac- 
tice at Springfield. He married a lady of a 
prominent Kentucky family in 1842. He 
was active in the presidential campaigns of 
1840 and 1844 and was an elector on the 
Harrison and Clay tickets, and was elected 
to congress in 1846, over Peter Cartwright. 
He voted for the Wilmot proviso and the 
abolition of slavery in the District of Colum- 
bia, and opposed the war with Mexico, but 
gained little prominence during his two 
years' service. He then returned to Spring- 
field and devoted his attention to law, tak- 
ing little interest in politics, until the repeal 
of the Missouri compromise and the passage 
of the Kansas-Nebraska bill in 1854. This 
awakened his interest in politics again and 
he attacked the champion of that measure, 



Stephen A. Douglas, in a speech at Spring- 
field that made him famous, and is said 
by those who heard it to be the greatest 
speech of his life. Lincoln was selected as 
candidate for the United States senate, but 
was defeated by Trumbull. Upon the pas- 
sage of the Kansas-Nebraska bill the Whig 
party suddenly went to pieces, and the Re- 
publican party gathered head. At the 
Bloomington Republican convention in 1856 
Lincoln made an effective address in which 
he first took a position antagonistic to the ex- 
istence of slavery. He was a Fremont elector 
and received a strong support for nomina- 
tion as vice-president in the Philadelphia 
convention. In 1858 he was the unanimous 
choice of the Republicans for the United 
States senate, and the great campaign of de- 
bate which followed resulted in the election 
of Douglas, but established Lincoln's repu- 
tation as the leading exponent of Republican 
doctrines. He began to be mentioned in 
Illinois as candidate for the presidency, and 
a course of addresses in the eastern states 
attracted favorable attention. When the 
national convention met at Chicago, his 
rivals, Chase, Seward, Bates and others, 
were compelled to retire before the western 
giant, and he was nominated, with Hannibal 
Hamlin as his running mate. The Demo- 
cratic party had now been disrupted, and 
Lincoln's election assured. He carried 
practically every northern state, and the 
secession of South Carolina, followed by a 
number of the gulf states, took placfe before 
his inauguration. Lincoln is the only presi- 
dent who was ever compelled to reach 
Washington in a secret manner. He es- 
caped assassination by avoiding Baltimore, 
and was quietly inaugurated March 4, 1861. 
His inaugural address was firm but con- 
ciliatory, and he said to the secessionists: 
"You have no oath registered in heaveo. 



COMPENDIUM OF BJOGRAPHT. 



13T 



to destroy the government, while I have the 
most solemn one to preserve, protect and 
defend it.' He made up his cabinet chiefly 
of those political rivals in his own party — 
Seward. Chase, Cameron, Bates — and se- 
cured the co-operation of the Douglas Dem- 
o. rats. His great deeds, amidst the heat 
and turmoil of war, were: His call for 
seventy-five tiiousand volunteers, and the 
blockading of southern ports; calling of con- 
gress in extra session, July 14, 1861, and 
obtaining four hundred thousand men and 
four hundred million dollars for the prosecu- 
tion of the war; appointing Stanton secre- 
tary of war; issuing the emancipation proc- 
lamation; calling three hundred thou- 
sand volunteers; address at Gettysburg 
C'liietety; commissioned Grant as lieuten- 
ant-general and commander-in-chief of the 
armies of the United States; his second 
inaugural address; his visit to the army be- 
fore Richmond, and his entry into Rich- 
mond the day after its surrender. 

Abraham Lincoln was shot by John 
VVi'kes Booth in a box In Ford's theater 
at Washington the night of April 14, 1865. 
and expired the following morning. His 
body was buried at Oak Ridge cemetery, 
Springfield, Illinois, and a monument com- 
memorating his great work marks his resting 
place. 

STEPHEN GIRARD, the celebrated 
philanthropist, was born in Bordeaux, 
France, May 24, 1750. He became a sailor 
engaged in the American coast trade, and 
also made frequent trips to the West Indies. 
During the Revolutionary war he was a 
grocer and liquor seller in Philadelphia. 
He married in that city, and afterward 
separated from his wife. After the war he 
again engaged in the coast and West India 
trade, and his fortuue began to accumulate 



from receiving goods from West Indian 
planters during the insurrection in Hayti, 
little of which was ever called for again. 
He became a private banker in Philadelphia 
in 18 12, and afterward was a director in the 
United States Bank. He made much money 
by leasing pi operty in the city in times of 
depression, and upon the revival of industry 
sub-leasing at enormous profit. He became 
the wealthiest citizen of the United States 
of his time. 

He was eccentric, ungracious, and a 
freethinker. He had few, if any, friends in 
his lifetime. However, he was most chari- 
tably disposed, and gave to charitable in- 
stitutions and schools with a liberal hand. 
He did more than any one else to relieve 
the suffering and deprivations during the 
great yellow fever scourge in Philadelphia, 
devoting liis personal attention to the sick. 
He endowed and made a free institution, 
the famous Will's Eye and Ear Infirmary 
of Philadelphia — one of the largest institu- 
tions of its kind in the world. At his death 
practically all his immense wealth was be- 
queathed to charitable institutions, more 
than two millions of dollars going to the 
founding of Girard College, svhich was to 
be devoted to the education and training of 
boys between the ages of six and ten years. 
Large donations were also made to institu- 
tions in Philadelphia and New Orleans. 
The principal building of Girard College is 
the most magnificent example of Greek 
architecture in America. Girard died De- 
cember 26, 1 83 1. 



LOUIS J. R. AGASSIZ, the eminent nat- 
uralist and geologist, was born in the 
parish of Motier, near Lake Neuchatel, Swit- 
zerland, May 28, 1807, but attained his 
greatest fame after becoming an American 
citizen. He studied the medical sciences at 



138 



COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHT. 



Zurich, Heidelberg and Munich. His first 
work was a Latin description of the fishes 
which Martius and Spix brought from Brazil. 
This was published in 1 829-3 1 • He devoted 
much time to the study of fossil fishes, and 
in 1832 was appointed professor of natural 
history at Neuchatel. He greatly increased 
■his reputation by a great work in French, 
entitled " Researches on Fossil Fishes," in 
1832-42, in which he made many important 
improvements in the classification of fishes. 
Having passed many summers among the 
Alps in researches on glaciers, he propounded 
some new and interesting ideas on geology, 
and the agency of glaciers in his "Studies 
by the Glaciers." This was published in 
1840. This latter work, with his " System 
of the Glaciers," published in 1847, are 
among his principal works. 

In 1846, Professor Agassiz crossed the 
ocean on a scientific excursion to the United 
States, and soon determined to remain here. 
He accepted, about the beginning of 1848, 
the chair of zoology and geology at Harvard. 
He explored the natural history of the 
United States at different times and gave an 
impulse to the study of nature in this 
country. In 1865 he conducted an expedi- 
tion to Brazil, and explored the lower Ama- 
zon and its tributaries. In 1868 he was 
made non-resident professor of natural his- 
tory at Cornell University. In December, 
1 87 1, he accompanied the Hassler expedi- 
tion, under Professor Pierce, to the South 
Atlantic and Pacific oceans. He died at 
Cambridge, Massachusetts, December 14, 

1873- 

Among other of the important works of 
Professor Agassiz may be mentioned the fol- 
lowing: "Outlines of Comparative Physi- 
ology," "Journey to Brazil," and "Contri- 
butions to the Natural History of the United 
States." It is said of Professor Agassiz, 



that, perhaps, with the exception of Hugh 
Miller, no one had so popularized science in 
his day, or trained so many young natural- 
ists. Many of the theories held by Agassiz 
are not supported by many of the natural- 
ists of these later days, but upon many of 
the speculations into the origin of species and 
in physics he has left the marks of his own 
strongly marked individuality. 



WILLIAM WINDOM.— As a prominent 
and leading lawyer of the great north- 
west, as a member of both houses of con- 
gress, and as the secretary of the treasury, 
the gentleman whose name heads this sketch 
won for himself a prominent position in the 
history of our country. 

Mr. Windom was a native of Ohio, 
born in Belmont county. May 10, 1827. 
He received a good elementary education m 
the schools of his native state, and took up 
the study of law. He was admitted to the 
bar, and entered upon the practice of his 
profession in Ohio, where he remained until 
1855. In the latter year he made up his 
mind to move further west, and accordingly 
went to Minnesota, and opening an office, 
became identified with the interests of that 
state, and the northwest generally. In 
1858 he took his place in the Minnesota 
delegation in the national house of repre- 
sentatives, at Washington, and continued 
to represent his constituency in that body 
for ten years. In 1871 Mr. Windom was 
elected United States senator from Min- 
nesota, and was re-elected to the same office 
after fulfilling the duties of the position for 
a full term, in 1876. On the inauguration 
of President Garfield, in March, iSSi, Mr. 
Windom became secretary of the treasury 
in his cabinet. He resigned this office Oc- 
tober 27, 1 88 1, and was elected senator 
from the North Star state to fill the va- 



COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHT. 



189- 



cancy caused by the resignation of A. J. 
Edgerton. Mr. Windom served in that 
chamber until March, 1883. 

WilHam Windom died in New York 
City January 29, 1891. 



DON M. DICKINSON, an American 
politician and lawyer, was born in 
Port Ontario, New York, January 17, 1846. 
He removed with his parents to Michigan 
when he was but two years old. He was 
educated in the public schools of Detroit 
and at the University of Michigan at Ann 
Arbor, and was admitted to the bar at the 
age of twenty-one. In 1872 he was made 
secretary of the Democratic state central 
committee of Michigan, and his able man- 
agement of the campaign gave him a prom- 
inent place in the councils of his party. In 
1876, during the Tilden campaign, he acted 
as chairman of the state central committee. 
He was afterward chosen to represent his 
state in the Democratic national committee, 
and in 1886 he was appointed postmaster- 
general by President Cleveland. After the 
expiration of his term of office he returned 
to Detroit and resumed the practice of law. 
In the presidential campaign of 1896, Mr. 
Dickinson adhered to the "gold wing "of 
the Democracy, and his influence was felt 
in the national canvass, and especially in 
his own state. 



JOHN JACOB ASTOR, the founder of 
cJ the Astor family and fortunes, while not 
a native of this country, was one of the 
most noteji-nieu nf4tia time, and as all his 
wealth' and fame were acquired here, he 
may well be classed among America's great 
men. He was born near Heidelberg, Ger- 
many, July 17, 1763, and when twenty 
years old emigrated to the United States. 
Even at that ajre he exhibited remarkable 



business ability and foresight, and soon he 
was investing capital in furs which he took 
to London and sold at a great profit. He 
next settled at New York, and engaged ex- 
tensively in the fur trade. He exported 
furs to Europe in his own vessels, which re- 
turned with cargoes of foreign commodities, 
and thus he rapidly amassed an immense 
fortune. In 18*11 he founded Astoria on 
the western coast of North America, near 
the mouth of the Columbia river, as a depot 
for the fur trade, for the promotion of 
which he sent a number of expeditions to 
the Pacific ocean. He also purchased a 
large amount of real estate in New York, 
the value of which increased enormously 
All through life his business ventures were 
a series of marvelous successes, and he 
ranked as one of the most sagacious and 
successful business men in the world. He 
c'iea March 29, 1848, leaving a fortune es- 
timated at over twenty million dollars to 
his children, who have since increased it. 
John Jacob Astor left $400,000 to found a 
public library in New York City, and his son, 
William B. Astor, who died in 1875, left 
$300,000 to add to his father's bequest. 
This is known as the Astor Library, one of 
the largest in the United States. 



SCHUYLER COLFAX, an eminent 
American statesman, was born in New 
York City, March 23, 1823, being a grand- 
son of General William Colfax, the com- 
mander of Washington's life-guards. In 
1836 he removed with his mother, who was 
then a widow, to Indiana, settling at South 
Bend. Young Schuyler studied law, and 
in 1845 became editor of the "St. Joseph 
Valley Register," a Whig paper published 
at South Bend. He was a member of the 
convention which formed a new constitu- 
tion for Indiana in 1850, and he opposed. 



140 



COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHT. 



the clause that prohibited colored men 
from settling in that state. In 185 1 he was 
defeated as the Whig candidate for congress 
but was elected in 1854, and, being repeat- 
edly re-elected, continued to represent that 
district in congress until 1869. He became 
one of the most prominent and influential 
members of the house of representatives, 
and served three terms as speaker. During 
the Civil war he was an active participant 
in all public measures of importance, and 
was a confidential friend and adviser of 
President Lincoln. In May, 1868, Mr. 
Colfax was nominated for vice-president on 
the ticket with General Grant, and was 
elected. After the close of his term he re- 
tired from office, and for the remainder of 
his life devoted much of his time to lectur- 
ing and literary pursuits. His death oc- 
curred January 23, 1885. He was one of 
the most prominent members of the Inde- 
pendent Order of Odd Fellows in America, 
and that order erected a bronze statue to 
his memory in University Park, Indianapo- 
lis, Indiana, which was unveiled in May, 
1887. 

WILLIAM FREEMAN VILAS, who at- 
tained a national reputation as an able 
lawyer, statesman, and cabinet officer, was 
born at Chelsea, Vermont, July 9, 1S40. 
His parents removed to Wisconsin when 
our subject was but eleven years of age, 
and there with the early settlers endured all 
the hardships and trials incident to pioneer 
life. William F. Vilas was given all the 
advantages found in the common schools, 
and supplemented this bj- a course of study 
in the Wisconsin State University, after 
which he studied law, was admitted to the 
bar and began practicing at Madison. 
Shortly afterward the Civil war broke out 
and Mr. Vilas enlisted and became colonel 



of the Twenty-third regiment of Wisconsin 
Volunteers, serving throughout the war with 
distinction. At the close of the war he re- 
turned to Wisconsin, resumed his law prac- 
tice, and rapidly rose to eminence in this 
profession. In 1885 he was selected by 
President Cleveland for postmaster-general 
and at the close of his term again returned 
to Madison, Wisconsin, to resume the prac- 
tice of law. 

THOMAS McINTYRE COOLEY, anem- 
inent American jurist and law writer, 
was born in Attica, New York, January 6, 
1824. He was admitted to the bar in 1 846, 
and four years later was appointed reporter 
of the supreme court of Michigan, which 
office he continued to hold for seven years. 
In the meantime, in 1859, he became pro- 
fessor of the law department of the Univer- 
sity of Michigan, and soon afterward was 
made dean of the faculty of that depart- 
ment. In 1864 he was elected justice of 
the supreme court of Michigan, in 1867 be- 
came chief justice of that court, and in 
1869 was re-elected for a term of eight 
years. In 1881 he again joined the faculty 
of the University of Michigan, assuming the 
professorship of constitutional and adminis- 
trative law. His works on these branches 
have become standard, and he is recog- 
nized as authority on this and related sub- 
jects. Upon the passage of the inter-state 
commerce law in 1887 he became chairman 
of the commission and served in that capac- 
ity four years. 



JOHN PETER ALTGELD, a noted 
American politician and writer on social 
questions, was born in Germany, December 
30, 1847. He came to America with his 
parents and settled in Ohio when two years 
old. In 1864 he entered the Union army 



COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY. 



141 



and served till the close of the war, after 
which he settled in Chicago, Illinois. He 
was elected judge of the superior court of 
Cook county, Illinois, in 1886, in which 
capacity he served until elected governor of 
Illinois in 1892, as a Democrat. During 
the first year of his term as governor he at- 
tracted national attention by his pardon of 
the anarchists convicted of the Haymarket 
murder in Chicago, and again in 1894 by 
his denunciation of President Cleveland for 
calling out federal troops to suppress the 
rioting in connection with the great Pull- 
man strike in Chicago. At the national 
convention of the Democratic party in Chi- 
cago,, in July, 1896, he is said to have in- 
spired the clause in the platform denuncia- 
tory of interference by federal authorities in 
local affairs, and "government by injunc- 
tion." He was gubernatorial candidate for 
re-election on the Democratic ticket in 1896, 
but was defeated by John R. Tanner, Re- 
publican. Mr. Altgeld published two vol- 
umes of essays on " Live Questions," evinc- 
ing radical views on social matters. 



ADLAI EWING STEVENSON, an Amer. 
ican statesman and politician, was born 
in Christian county, Kentucky, October 23, 
1835, and removed with the family to 
Bloomington, Illinois, in 1852. He was 
admitted to the bar in 1858, and set- 
tled in the practice of his profession 
in Metamora, Illinois. In 1861 he was 
made master in chancery of Woodford 
county, and in 1864 was elected state's at- 
torney. In 1 868 he returned to Blooming- 
ton and formed a law partnership with 
James S. Ewing. He had served as a pres- 
idential elector in 1864, and in 1868 was 
elected to congress as a Democrat, receiv- 
ing a majority vote from every county in his 
district. He became prominent in his 



party, and was a delegate to the national 
convention in 1884. On the election of 
Cleveland to the presidency Mr. Stevenson 
was appointed first assistant postmaster- 
general. After the expiration of his term 
he continued to exert a controlling influence 
in the politics of his state, and in 1892 was 
elected vice-president of the United States 
on the ticket with Grover Cleveland. At 
the expiration of his term of office he re- 
sumed the practice of law at Bloomington, 
Illinois. 



SIMON CAMERON, whose name is 
prominently identified with the history 
of the United States as a political leader 
and statesman, was born in Lancaster coun- 
ty, Pennsylvania, March 8, 1799. He grew 
to manhood in his native county, receiving 
good educational advantages, and develop- 
ing a natural inclination for political life. 
He rapidly rose in prominence and became 
the most influential Democrat in Penns}','^ 
vania, and in 1845 was elected by that party 
to the United States senate. Upon the 
organization of the Republican party he was 
one of the first to declare his allegiance to 
it, and in 1856 was re-elected United States 
senator from Pennsylvania as a Republican. 
In March, 1861, he was appointed secretary 
of war by President Lincoln, and served 
until early in 1862, when he was sent as 
minister to Russia, returning in 1863. In 
1866 he was again elected United States 
senator and served until 1877, when he re- 
signed and was succeeded by his son, James 
Donald Cameron. He continued to exert a 
powerful influence in political affairs up to 
the time of his death, June 26, 1889. 

James Donald Cameron was the eld- 
est son of Simon Cameron, and also 
attained a high rank among American 
statesmen. He was born at Harrisburg, 



142, 



COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY. 



Pennsylvania, May 14, 1833, and received an 
excellent education, graduating at Princeton 
College in 1852. He rapidly developed into 
one of the most able and successful business 
men of the country and was largely inter- 
ested in and identified with the develop- 
ment of the coal, iron, lumber and manu- 
facturing interests of his native state. He 
served as cashier and afterward president of 
the Middletown bank, and in 186 1 was made 
vice-president, and in 1863 president of 
the Northern Central railroad, holding this 
position until 1874, when he resigned and 
was succeeded by Thomas A. Scott. This 
road was of great service to the government 
during the war as a means of communica- 
tion between Pennsylvania and the national 
capital, via Baltimore. Mr. Cameron also 
took an active part in political affairs, 
always as a Republican. In May, 1876, 
he was appointed secretary of war in Pres- 
ident Grant's cabinet, and in 1877 suc- 
ceeded his father in the United States 
senate. He was re-elected in 18S5, and 
again in 1891, serving until 1896, and was 
recognized as one of the most prominent and 
influential members of that body. 



ADOLPHUS W. GREELEY, a famous 
American arctic explorer, was born at 
Newburyport, Massachusetts, March 27, 
1844. He graduated from Brown High 
School at the age of sixteen, and a year 
later enlisted in Company B, Nineteenth 
Massachusetts Infantry, and was made first 
sergeant. In 1863 he was promoted to 
second lieutenant. After the war he was 
assigned to the Fifth United States Cavalry, 
and became first lieutenant in 1873. He 
was assigned to duty in the United States 
signal service shortly after the close of the 
war. An expedition was fitted out by the 
United States government in 1881, un- 



der auspices of the weather bureau, and 
Lieutenant Greeley placed in command. 
They set sail from St. Johns the first week 
in July, and after nine days landed in Green- 
land, where they secured the services of two 
natives, together with sledges, dogs, furs 
and equipment. They encountered an ice 
pack early in August, and on the 28th of 
that month freezing weather set in. Two 
of his party. Lieutenant Lockwood and Ser- 
geant Brainard, added to the known maps 
about forty miles of coast survey, and 
reached the highest point yet attained by 
man, eighty-three degrees and twenty-four 
minutes north, longitude, forty-four degrees 
and five minutes west. On their return to 
Fort Conger, Lieutenant Greeley set out 
for the south on August 9, 1883. He 
reached Baird Inlet twenty days later with 
his entire party. Here they were compelled 
to abandon their boats, and drifted on an 
ice-floe for one month. They then went 
into camp at Cape Sabine, where they suf- 
fered untold hardships, and eighteen of the 
party succumbed to cold and hunger, and 
had relief been delayed two days longer 
none would have been found alive. They 
were picked up by the relief expedition, 
under Captain Schley. June 22, 1884. The 
dead were taken to New York for burial. 
Many sensational stories were published 
concerning the expedition, and Lieutenant 
Greeley prepared an exhaustive account 
of his explorations and experiences. 



LEVI P. MORTON, the millionaire poli- 
tician, was born in Shoreham, Ver- 
mont, May 16, 1824, and his early educa- 
tion consisted of the rudiments which he 
obtained in the common school up to the 
age of fourteen, and after that time what 
knowledge he gained was wrested from the 
hard school of experience. He removed to 



COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHT. 



14S 



Hanover, Vermont, then Concord, Vermont, 
and afterwards to Boston. He had worked 
in a store at Shoreham, his native village, 
and on going to Hanover he established a 
store and went into business for himself. 
In Boston he clerked in a dry goods store, 
and then opened a business of his own in 
the same line in New York. After a short 
career he failed, and was compelled to set- 
tle with his creditors at only fifty cents on 
the dollar. He began the struggle anew, 
and when the war began he established a 
banking house in New York, with Junius 
Morgan as a partner. Through his firm 
and connections the great government war 
loans were floated, and it resulted in im- 
mense profits to his house. When he was 
again thoroughly established he invited his 
former creditors to a banquet, and under 
each guest's plate was found a check cover- 
ing the amount of loss sustained respec- 
tively, with interest to date. 

President Garfield appointed Mr. Mor- 
ton as minister to France, after he had de- 
clined the secretaryship of the navy, and in 
1888 he was nominated as candidate for 
vice-president, with Harrison, and elected. 
In 1894 he was elected governor of New 
York over David B. Hill, and served one 
term. 



CHARLES KENDALL ADAMS, one 
of the most talented and prominent 
educators this country has known, was born 
January 24, 1835, at Derby, Vermont. He 
received an elementary education in the 
common schools, and studied two terms in 
the Derby Academy. Mr. Adams moved 
with his parents to Iowa in 1856. He was 
very anxious to pursue a collegiate course, 
but this was impossible until he had attained 
the age of twenty-one. In the autumn of 
1856 he began the study of Latin and Greek 



at Denmark Academy, and in September, 
1857, he was admitted to the University of 
Michigan. Mr. Adams was wholly depend- 
ent upon himself for the means of his edu- 
cation. During his third and fourth year 
he became deeply interested in historical 
studies, was assistant librarian of the uni- 
versity, and determined to pursue a post- 
graduate course. In 1864 he was appointed 
instructor of history and Latin and was ad- 
vanced to an assistant professorship in 1865, 
and in 1867, on the resignation oi Professoi 
White to accept the presidency of Cornell, 
he was appointed to fill the chair of profes- 
sor of history. This he accepted on con- 
dition of his being allowed to spend a year 
for special study in Germany, France and 
Italy. Mr. Adams returned in 1868, and 
assumed the duties of his professorship. 
He introduced the German system for the 
instruction of advanced history classes, and 
his lectures were largely attended. In 1885, 
on the resignation of President White at 
Cornell, he was elected his successor and 
held the office for seven years, and on Jan- 
uary 17, 1893, he was inaugurated presi- 
dent of the University of Wisconsin. Pres- 
ident Adams was prominently connected 
with numerous scientific and literary organ- 
izations and a frequent contributor to the 
historical and educational data in the peri- 
odicals and journals of the country. He 
was the author of the following: " Dem- 
ocracy and Monarchy in France," " Manual 
of Historical Literature," " A Plea for Sci- 
entific Agriculture," " Higher Education in 
Germany." 

JOSEPH B. FORAKER, a prominent po- 
litical leader and ex-governor of Ohio, 
was born near Rainsboro, Highland county, 
Ohio, July 5, 1846. His parents operated 
a small farm, with a grist and sawmill, hav- 



144 



COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHT. 



ing emigrated hither from Virginia and 
Delaware on account of their distaste for 
slavery. 

Joseph was reared upon a farm until 
1862, when he enlisted in the Eighty-ninth 
Ohio Infantry. Later he was made ser- 
geant, and in 1864 commissioned first lieu- 
tenant. The next year he was brevetted 
captain. At the age of nineteen he was 
mustered out of the army after a brilliant 
service, part of the time being on the staff 
of General Slocum. He participated in the 
battles of Missionary Ridge, Lookout Mount- 
ain and Kenesaw Mountain and in Sher- 
man's march to the sea. 

For two years subsequent to the war 
young Foraker was studying at the Ohio 
Wesleyan University at Delaware, but later 
went to Cornell University, at Unity, New 
York, from which he graduated July i, 
1869. He studied law and was admitted to 
the bar. In 1879 Mr. Foraker was elected 
judge of the superior court of Cincinnati 
and held the office for three years. In 1883- 
he was defeated in the contest for the gov- 
ernorship with Judge Hoadly. In 1885, 
however, being again nominated for the 
same office, he was elected and served two 
terms. In 1889, in running for governor 
again, this time against James E. Camp- 
bell, he was defeated. Two years later his 
career in the United States senate began. 
Mr. Foraker was always a prominent figure 
at all national meetings of the Republican 
party, and a strong power, politically, in his 
native state. 



LYMAN ABBOTT, an eminent American 
preacher and writer on religious sub- 
jects, came of a noted New England 
family. His father, Rev. Jacob Abbott, was 
a prolific and popular writer, and his uncle. 
Rev. John S. C. Abbott, was a noted 



preacher and author. Lyman Abbott was 
born December 18, 1835, in Roxbury, 
Massachusetts." He graduated at the New 
York University, in 1853, studied law, and 
practiced for a time at the bar, after which 
he studied theology with his uncle. Rev. 
John S. C. Abbott, and in i860 was settled 
in the ministry at Terre Haute, Indiana, re- 
maining there until after the close of the 
war. He then became connected with the 
Freedmen's Commission, continuing this 
until 1868, when he accepted the pastorate 
of the New England Congregational church, 
in New York City. A few years later he re- 
signed, to devote his time principally to lit- 
erary pursuits. For a number of years he 
edited for the American Tract Society, its 
"Illustrated Christian Weekly," also the 
New York "Christian Union." He pro- 
duced many works, which had a wide circu- 
lation, among which may be mentioned the 
following: "Jesus of Nazareth, His Life and 
Teachings," "Old Testament Shadows of 
New Testament Truths," "Morning and 
Evening Exercises, Selected from Writings 
of Henry Ward Beecher," " Laicus, or the 
Experiences of a Layman in a Country 
Parish," "Popular Religious Dictionary," 
and "Commentaries on Matthew, Mark, 
Luke, John and Acts." 



GEORGE WILLIAM CURTIS.— The 
well-known author, orator and journal- 
ist whose name heads this sketch, was born 
at Providence, Rhode Island, February 24, 
1824. Having laid the foundation of a 
most excellent education in his native land, 
he went to Europe and studied at the Uni- 
versity of Berlin. He made an extensive 
tour throughout the Levant, from which he 
returned home in 1850. At that early age 
literature became his field of labor, and in 
1851 he published his first important work. 



COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHT. 



145 



" Nile Notes of a Howadji." In 1852 two 
A\'orks issued from his facile pen, "The 
Howadji in Syria," and " Lotus-Eating. " 
Later on he was the author of the well- 
known " Potiphar Papers," " Prue and L" 
and "Trumps." He greatly distinguished 
himself throughout this land as a lecturer 
on many subjects, and as an orator had but 
few peers. He was also well known as one 
of the most fluent speakers on the stump, 
making many political speeches in favor of 
the Republican party. In recognition of 
his valuable services, Mr. Curtis was ap- 
pointed by President Grant, chairman of 
the advisory board of the civil service. Al- 
though a life-long Republican, Mr. Curtis 
refused to support Blaine for the presidency 
in 1884, because of his ideas on civil ser- 
vice and other reforms. For his memorable 
and magnificent eulogy on Wendell Phillips, 
delivered in Boston, in 1884, that city pre- 
sented Mr. Curtis with a gold medal. 

George W. Curtis, however, is best 
known to the reading public of the United 
States by his connection with the Harper 
Brothers, having been editor of the " Har- 
per's Weekly, " and of the "Easy Chair," 
in " Harper's Monthly Magazine, "for many 
years, in fact retaining that position until 
the day of his death, which occurred August 
31. 1892- 

ANDREW JOHNSON, the seventeenth 
president of the United States, served 
from 1865 to i86g. He was born Decem- 
ber 8, 1808, at Raleigh, North Carolina, 
and was left an orphan at the age of four 
years. He never attended school, and was 
apprenticed to a tailor. While serving his 
apprenticeship he suddenly acquired a pas- 
sion for knowledge, and learned to read. 
From that time on he spent all his spare 
time in reading, and after working for two 



years as a journeyman tailor at Lauren's 
Court House, South Carolina, he removed 
to Greenville, Tennessee, where he worked 
at his trade and was married. Under his 
wife's instruction he made rapid progress in 
his studies and manifested such an interest 
in local politics as to be elected as " work- 
ingmen's candidate " alderman in 1828, and 
in 1830 to the mayoralty, and was twice 
re-elected to each office. Mr. Johnson 
utilized this time in cultivating his talents 
as a public speaker, by taking part in a de- 
bating society. He was elected in 1835 to 
the lower house of the legislature, was re- 
elected in 1839 as a Democrat, and in 
1841 was elected state senator. Mr. John- 
son was elected representative in congress 
in 1843 and was re-elected four times in 
succession until 1853, when he was the suc- 
cessful candidate for the gubernatorial chair 
of Tennessee. He was re-elected in 1855 
and in 1857 he entered the United States 
senate. In i860 he was supported by the 
Tennessee delegation to the Democratic 
convention for the presidential nomination, 
and lent his influence to the Breckinridge 
wing of the party. At the election of Lin- 
coln, which brought about the first attempt 
at secession in December, i860, Mr. John- 
son took a firm attitude in the senate for 
the Union. He was the leader of the loy- 
alists in East Tennessee. By the course 
that Mr. Johnson pursued in this crisis he 
was brought prominently before the north- 
ern people, and when, in March, 1862, he 
was appointed military governor of Ten- 
nessee with the rank of brigadier-general, 
he increased his popularity by the vigorous 
manner in which he labored to restore 
order. In the campaign of 1864 he was 
elected vice-president on the ticket with 
President Lincoln, and upon the assassi- 
nation of the latter he succeeded to the 



146 



COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHT. 



presidency, April 15, 1865. He retained 
the cabinet of President Lincoln, and at 
first exhibited considerable severity towards 
the former Confederates, but he soon inau- 
gurated a policy of reconstruction, pro- 
claimed a general amnesty to the late Con- 
federates, and established provisional gov- 
ernments in the southern states. These 
states claimed representation in congress in 
the following December, and then arose the 
momentous question as to what should be 
the policy of the victorious Union against 
their late enemies. The Republican ma- 
jority in congress had an apprehension that 
the President would undo the results of the 
war, and consequently passed two bills over 
the executive veto, and the two highest 
branches of the government were in open 
antagonism. The cabinet was reconstructed 
in July, and Messrs. Randall, Stanbury and 
Browning superseded Messrs. Denison, 
Speed and Harlan. In August, 1867, Pres- 
ident Johnson removed the secretary of war 
and replaced him with General Grant, but 
when congress met in December it refused 
to ratify the removal of Stanton, who re- 
sumed the functions of his office. In 1868 
the president again attempted to remove 
Stanton, who refused to vacate his post 
and was sustained by the senate. Presi- 
dent Johnson was accused by congress of 
high crimes and misdemeanors, but the trial 
resulted in his acquittal. Later he was Uni- 
ted States senator from Tennessee, and 
died July 31, 1875. 



EDMUND RANDOLPH, first attorney- 
general of the United States, was born 
in Virginia, August 10. 1753 His father, 
John Randolph, was attorney-general of 
Virginia, and lived and died a royalist. Ed- 
mund was educated in the law. but joined 
the army as aide-de-camp to Washington 



in 1775, at Cambridge, Massachusetts. He 
was elected to the Virginia convention in 
1776, and attorney-general of the state the 
same year. In 1779 he was elected to the 
Continental congress, and served four years 
in that body. He was a member of the con- 
vention in 1787 that framed the constitu- 
tion. In that convention he proposed what 
was known as the " Virginia plan" of con- 
federation, but it was rejected. He advo- 
cated the ratification of the constitution in 
the Virginia convention, although he had re- 
fused to sign it. He became governor of 
Virginia in 1788, and the next year Wash- 
ington appointed him to the office of at- 
torney-general of the United States upon 
the organization of the government under 
the constitution. He was appointed secre- 
tary of state to succeed Jefferson during 
Washington's second term, but resigned a 
year later on account of differences in the 
cabinet concerning the policy pursued to- 
ward the new French republic. He died 
September 12, 181 3. 



W INFIELD SCOTT HANCOCK was 
born in Montgomery county, Penn- 
sylvania, February 14, 1824. • He received 
his early education at the Norristown 
Academy, in his native county, and, in 1840, 
was appointed a cadet in the United States 
Military Academy, at West Point. He was 
graduated from the latter in 1844, and brev- 
etted as second lieutenant of infatitr\'. In 
1853 he was made first lieutenant, aud two 
years later transferred to the quartermaster's 
department, with the rank of captain, and 
in 1863 promoted to the rank of major. He 
served on the frontier, and in the war with 
Mexico, displaying conspicuous gallantry dur- 
ing the latter. He also took a part in the 
Seminole war, and in the troubles in Kan- 
sas, in 1S57, and in California, at the out- 



COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHT. 



14T 



break of the Civil war, as chief quarter- 
master of the Southern district, he exerted 
a powerful influence. In 1861 he applied 
for active duty in the field, and was assigned 
to the department of Kentucky as chief 
quartermaster, but before entering upon that 
duty, was appointed brigadier-general of 
volunteers. His subsequent history during 
the war was substantially that of the Army 
of the Potomac. He participated in the 
campaign, under McClellan, and led the 
gallant charge, which captured Fort Magru- 
der, won the day at the battle of Wil- 
liamsburg, and by services rendered at 
Savage's Station and other engagements, 
won several grades in the regular service, 
and was recommended by McClellan for 
major-general of volunteers. He was a con- 
spicuous figure at South Mountain and An- 
tietam. He was commissioned major-gen- 
eral of volunteers, November 29, 1862, and 
made commander of the First Division of 
the Second Corps, which he led at Fred- 
ricksburg and at Chancellorsville. He was 
appointed to the command of the Second 
Corps in June, 1863, and at the battle of 
Gettysburg, July i, 2 and 3, of that year, 
took an important part. On his arrival on 
the field he found part of the forces then 
in retreat, but stayed the retrograde 
movement, checked the enemy, and on the 
following day commanded the left center, 
repulsed, on the third, the grand assault of 
General Lee's army, and was severely 
wounded. For his services on that field 
General Hancock received the thanks of 
congress. On recovering from his wound, 
he was detailed to go north to stimulate re- 
cruiting and fill up the diminished corps, and 
was the recipient of many public receptions 
and ovations. In March, 1864, he returned 
to his command, and in the Wilderness and 
at Spottsylvania led large bodies of men 



successfully and conspicuously. From that 
on to the close of the campaign he was a 
prominent figure. In November, 1864, he 
was detailed to organize the First Veteran 
Reserve Corps, and at the close of hostilities 
was appointed to the command of the Mid- 
dle Military Division. In July, 1866, he 
was made major-general of the regular 
service. He was at the head of various 
military departments until 1872, when he 
was assigned to the command of the Depart- 
ment of the Atlantic, which post he held 
until his death. In 1869 he declined the 
nomination for governor of Pennsylvania. 
He was the nominee of the Democratic 
party for president, in 1880, and was de- 
feated by General Garfield, who had a popu- 
lar majority of seven thousand and eighteen 
and an electoral majority .of fifty-nine. Gen- 
eral Hancock died February 9, 1886. 



THOMAS PAINE, the most noted polit- 
ical and deistical writer of the Revolu- 
tionary period, was born in England, Jan- 
uary 29, 1737, of Quaker parents. His edu- 
cation was. obtained in the grammar schools 
of Thetford, his native town, and supple- 
mented by hard private study while working 
at his trade of stay-maker at London and 
other cities of England. He was for a time 
a dissenting preacher, although he did not 
relinquish his employment. He married a 
revenue official's daughter, and was employed 
in the revenue service for some time. He 
then became a grocer and during all this time 
he was reading and cultivating his literary 
tastes, and had developed a clear and forci- 
ble style of composition. He was chosen to 
represent the interests of the excisemen, 
and published a pamphlet that brought 
him considerable notice. He was soon after- 
ward introduced to Benjamin Franklin, and 
having been dismissed from the service on a. 



148 



COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY. 



charge of smuggling, his resentment led him 
to accept the advice of that statesman to 
come to America, in 1774. He became 
editor of the " Pennsylvania Magazine," and 
the next year published his "Serious 
Thoughts upon Slavery"* in the "Penn- 
sylvania Journal." His greatest political 
work, however, was written at the sugges- 
tion of Dr. Rush, and entitled "Common 
Sense." It was the most popular pamphlet 
written during the period and he received 
two thousand five hundred dollars from the 
state of Pennsylvania in recognition of its 
value. His periodical, the "Crisis," began 
in 1776, and its distribution among the 
soldiers did a great deal to keep up the spirit 
of revolution. He was made secretary of 
the committee of foreign affairs, but was dis- 
missed for revealing diplomatic secrets in 
one of his controversies with Silas Deane. 
He was originator and promoter of a sub- 
scription to relieve the distress of the soldiers 
near the close of the war, and was sent to 
France with Henry Laurens to negotiate the 
treaty with France, and was granted three 
thousand dollars by congress for his services 
there, and an estate at New Rochelle, by the 
state of New York. 

In 1787, after the close of the Revolu- 
tionary war, he went to France, and a few 
years later published his " Rights of Man," 
defending the French revolution, which 
gave him great popularity in France. He 
was made a citizen and elected to the na- 
tional convention at Calais. He favored 
banishment of the king to America, and 
opposed his execution. He was imprisoned 
for about ten months during 1794 by the 
Robespierre party, during which time he 
wrote the " Age of Reason," his great deis- 
tical work. He was in danger of the guillo- 
tine for several months. He took up his 
residence with the family of James Monroe, 



then minister to France and was chosen 
again to the convention. He returned 
to the United States in 1802, and was 
cordially received throughout the coun- 
try except at Trenton, where he was insulted 
by Federalists. He retired to his estate at 
New Rochelle, and his death occurred June 
8, 1809. 

JOHN WILLIAM MACKAY was one of 
America's noted men, both in the de- 
velopment of the western coast and the 
building of the Mackay and Bennett cable. 
He was born in 1831 at Dublin, Ireland; 
came to New York in 1840 and his boyhood 
days were spent in Park Row. He went 
to California some time after the argonauts 
of 1849 and took to the primitive methods 
of mining — lost and won and finally drifted 
into Nevada about i860. The bonanza dis- 
coveries which were to have such a potent 
influence on the finance and statesmanship 
of the day came in 1872. Mr. Mackay 
founded the Nevada Bank in 1878. He is 
said to have taken one hundred and 
fifty million dollars in bullion out of 
the Big Bonanza mine. There were as- 
sociated with him in this enterprise James 
G. Fair, senator from Nevada; William 
O'Brien and James C. Flood. When 
vast wealth came to Mr. Mackay he be- 
lieved it his duty to do his country some 
service, and he agitated in his mind the 
building of an American steamship line, 
and while brooding over this his attention 
was called to the cable relations between 
America and Europe. The financial man- 
agement of the cable was selfish and ex- 
travagant, and the capital was heavy with 
accretions of financial " water" and to pay 
even an apparent dividend upon the sums 
which represented the nominal value of the 
cables, it was necessary to hold the rates 



COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY. 



149 



at an exorbitant figure. And, moreover, 
the cables were foreign; in one the influence 
of France being paramount and in the other 
that of England; and in the matter of intel- 
ligence, so necessary in case of war, we 
would be at the mercy of our enemies. This 
train of thought brought Mr. Mackay into re- 
lation with James Gordon Bennett, the pro- 
prietor of the " New York Herald." The 
result of their intercourse was that Mr. Mac- 
kay so far entered into the enthusiasm of 
Mr. Bennett over an independent cable, 
that he offered to assist the enterprise with 
five hundred thousand dollars. This was the 
inception of the Commercial Cable Com- 
pany, or of what has been known for years 
as the Mackav-Bennett cable. 



ELISHA GRAY, the great inventor and 
electrician, was born August 2, 1835- 
at Barnesville, Belmont county, Ohio. He 
was, as a child, greatly interested in the 
phenomena of nature, and read with avidity 
all the books he could obtain, relating to 
this subject. He was apprenticed to various 
trades during his boyhood, but his insatiable 
thirst for knowledge dominated his life and 
he found time to study at odd intervals. 
Supporting himself by working at his trade, 
he found time to pursue a course at Oberlin 
College, where he particularly devoted him- 
self to the study of physicial science. Mr. 
Gray secured his first patent for electrical 
or telegraph apparatus on October r, 1867. 
His attention was first attracted to tele- 
phonic transmission during this year and he 
saw in it a way of transmitting signals for 
telegraph purposes, and conceived the idea 
of electro-tones, tuned to different tones in 
the scale. He did not then realize the im- 
portance of his invention, his thoughts being 
employed on the capacity of the apparatus 
for transmitting musical tones through an 



electric circuit, and it was not until 1874 
that he was again called to consider the re- 
production of electrically-transmitted vibra- 
tions through the medium of animal tissue. 
He continued e.xperimenting with various 
results, which finally culminated in his 
taking out a patent for his speaking tele- 
phone on February 14, 1876. He took out 
fifty additional patents in the course of 
eleven years, among which were, telegraph 
switch, telegraph repeater, telegraph annun- 
ciator and typewriting telegraph. From 
1869 until 1873 he was employed in the 
manufacture of telegraph apparatus in Cleve- 
land and Chicago, and filled the office of 
electrician to the Western Electric Com- 
pany. He was awarded the degree of D. 
S. , and in 1874 he went abroad to perfect 
himself in acoustics. Mr. Gray's latest in- 
vention was known as the telautograph or 
long distance writing machine. Mr. Gray 
wrote and published several works on scien- 
tific subjects, among which were: "Tele- 
graphy and Telephony," and "Experi- 
mental Research in Electro-Ha:rmonic Tele- 
graphy and Telephony." 



"\ ]l miTELAW REID.— Among the many 
V V men who have adorned the field of 
journalism in the United States, few stand 
out with more prominence than the scholar, 
author and editor whose name heads this ar- 
ticle. Born at Xenia, Greene county, Ohio, 
October 27, 1837, he graduated at Miami 
University in 1856. For about a year he 
was superintendent of the graded schools of 
South Charleston, Ohio, after which he pur- 
chased the " Xenia News," which he edited 
for about two years. This paper was the 
first one outside of Illinois to advocate the 
nomination of Abraham Lincoln, Mr. Reid 
having been a Republican since the birth of 
that party in 1856. Mter taking an active 



150 



COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY. 



part in the campaign, in the winter of 1860- 
61, he went to the state capital as corres- 
pondent of three daily papers. At the close 
of the session of the legislature he became 
city editor of the "Cincinnati Gazette," 
and at the breaking out of the war went to 
the front as a correspondent for that journal. 
For a time he served on the staff of General 
Morris in West Virginia, with the rank of 
captain. Shortly after he was on the staff 
of General Rosecrans, and, under the name 
of "Agate," wrote most graphic descrip- 
tions of the movements in the field, espe- 
cially that of the battle of Pittsburg Land- 
ing. In the spring of 1862 Mr. Reid went 
to Washington and was appointed librarian 
to the house of representatives, and acted as 
correspondent of the " Cincinnati Gazette." 
His description of the battle of Gettysburg, 
written on the field, gained him added 
reputation. In 1865 he accompanied Chief 
Justice Chase on a southern tour, and pub- 
lished "After the War; a Southern Tour." 
During the next two years he was engaged 
in cotton planting in Louisiana and Ala- 
bama, and published "Ohio in the War. " 
In 1868 he returned to the " Cincinnati Ga- 
zette," becoming one of its leading editors. 
The same year he accepted the invitation of 
Horace Greeley and became one of the staff 
on the " New York Tribune." Upon the 
death of Mr. Greeley in 1872, Mr. Reid be- 
came editor and chief proprietor of that 
paper. In 1878 he was tendered the United 
States mission to Berlin, but declined. The 
offer was again made by the Garfield ad- 
ministration, but again he declined. In 
1878 he was elected by the New York legis- 
lature regent of the university, to succeed 
General John A. Dix. Under the Harrison 
administration he served as United States 
minister to France, and in 1892 was the 
Republican nominee for the vice-presidency 



of the United States. Among other works 
published by him were the " Schools of 
Journalism," "The Scholar in Politics," 
"Some Newspaper Tendencies," and 
"Town-Hall Suggestions." 



GEORGE WHITEFIELD was one of 
the most powerful and effective preach- 
ers the world has ever produced, swaying 
his hearers and touching the hearts of im- 
mense audiences in a manner that has rarely 
been equalled and never surpassed. While 
not a native of America, yet much of his 
labor was spent in this country. He wielded 
a great influence in the United States in 
early days, and his death occurred here; so 
that he well deserves a place in this volume 
as one of the most celebrated men America 
has known. 

George Whitefield was born in the Bull 
Inn, at Gloucester, England, December 16, 
17 14. He acquired the rudiments of learn- 
ing in St. Mary's grammar school. Later 
he attended Oxford University for a time, 
where he became intimate with the Oxford 
Methodists, and resolved to devote himself 
to the ministry. He was ordained in the 
Gloucester Cathedral June 20, 1S36, and 
the following day preached his first sermon 
in the same church. On that day there 
commenced a new era in Whitefield's life. 
He went to London and began to preach at 
Bishopsgate church, his fame soon spread- 
ing over the city, and shortly he was en- 
gaged four times on a single Sunday in ad- 
dressing audiences of enormous magnitude, 
and he preached in various parts of his native 
country, the people crowding in multitudes 
to hear him and hanging upon the rails and 
rafters of the churches and approaches there- 
to. He finally sailed for America, landing 
in Georgia, v.'here he stirred the people to 
great enthusiasm. During the balance oi 




^. ^^ 

i B LNJ. BUTLER} - , -ZT^ '^ 



COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHT. 



153 



his life he divided his time between Great 
Britain and America, and it is recorded that 
he crossed the Atlantic thirteen times. He 
came to America for the seventh time in 
1770. He preached every day at Boston 
from the 17th to the 20th of September, 
1770, then traveled to Nevvburyport, preach- 
ing at Exeter, New Hampshire, September 
29, on the way. That evening he went to 
Newburyport, where he died the next day, 
Sunday, September 30, 1770. 

" Whitefield's dramatic power was amaz- 
ing, " says an eminent writer in describing 
him. " His voice was marvelously varied, 
and he ever had it at command — an organ, 
a flute, a harp, all in one. His intellectual 
powers were not of a high order, but he had 
an abundance of that ready talent and that 
wonderful magnetism which makes the pop- 
ular preacher; and beyond all natural en- 
dowments, there was in his ministry the 
power of evangelical truth, and, as his con- 
verts believed, the presence of the spirit of 
God." - 

CHARLES FRANCIS BRUSH, one of 
America's prominent men in the devel- 
opment of electrical science, was born March 
17, 1849, near Cleveland, Ohio, and spent 
his early life on his father's farm. From 
the district school at Wickliffe, Ohio, he 
passed to the Shaw Academy at Collamer, 
and then entered the high school at Cleve- 
land. His interest in chemistry, physics 
and engineering was already marked, and 
during his senior year he was placed in 
charge of the chemical and physical appar- 
atus. During these years he devised a plan 
for lighting street lamps, constructed tele- 
scopes, and his first electric arc lamp, also 
an electric motor. In September, 1867, he 
entered the engineering department of the 
University of Michigan and graduated in 



1869, which was a year in advance of his 
class, with the degree of M. E. He theri 
returned to Cleveland, and for three years 
was engaged as an analytical chemist and 
for four years in the iron business. In 
1875 Mr. Brush became interested in elec- 
tric lighting, and in 1876, after four months' 
experimenting, he completed the dynamo- 
electric machine that has made his name 
famous, and in a shorter time produced the 
series arc lamps. These were both patent- 
ed in the United States in 1876, and he 
afterward obtained fifty patents on his later 
inventions, including the fundamental stor- 
age battery, the compound series, shunt- 
winding for dynamo-electric machines, and 
the automatic cut-out for arc lamps. His 
patents, two-thirds of which have already 
been profitable, are held by the Brush 
Electric Company, of Cleveland, while his 
foreign patents are controlled by the Anglo- 
American Brush Electric Light Company, 
of London. In 1880 the Western Reserve 
University conferred upon Mr. Brush the 
degree of Ph. D., and in iSSi the French 
government decorated him as a chevalier of 
the Legion of Honor. 



HENRY CLEWS, of Wall-street fame, 
was one of the noted old-time opera- 
tors on that famous street, and was also an 
author of some repute. Mr. Clews was 
born in Staffordshire, England, August 14, 
1840. His father had him educated with 
the intention of preparing him for the minis- 
try, but on a visit to the United States the 
young man became interested in a business 
life, and was allowed to engage as a clerk in 
the importing house of Wilson G. Hunt & 
Co., of New York. Here he learned the 
first principles of business, and when the war 
broke out in 1861 young Clews saw in the 
needs of the government an opportunity to 



154 



COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY. 



reap a golden harvest. He identified him- 
self with the negotiating of loans for the 
government, and used his powers of pur- 
suasion upon the great money powers to 
convince them of the stability of the govern- 
ment and the value of its securities. By 
enthusiasm and patriotic arguments he in- 
duced capitalists to invest their money in 
government securities, often against their 
judgment, and his success was remarkable. 
His was one of the leading firms that aided 
the struggling treasury department in that 
critical hour, and his reward was great. In 
addition to the vast wealth it brought. 
President Lincoln and Secretary Chase 
both wrote important letters, acknowledging 
his valued service. In 1873, by the repu- 
diation of the bonded indebtedness of the 
state of Georgia, Mr. Clews lost six million 
dollars which he had invested in those se- 
curities. It is said that he is the only man, 
with one exception, in Wall street, who 
ever regained great wealth after utter dis- 
aster. His " Twenty-Eight Years in Wall 
Street " has been widely read. 



ALFRED VAIL was one of the men that 
gave to the world the electric telegraph 
and the names of Henry, Morse and Vail 
will forever remain linked as the prime fac- 
tors in that great achievement. Mr. Vail 
was born September 25, 1807, at Morris- 
town, New Jersey, and was a son of Stephen 
Vail, the proprietor of the Speedwell Iron 
Works, near Morristown. At the age of 
seventeen, after he had completed his stud- 
ies at the Morristown Academy, Alfred Vail 
went into the Speedwell Iron Works and 
contented himself with the duties of his 
position until he reached his majority. He 
then determined to prepare himself for the 
ministry, and at the age of twenty-five he 
entered the University ot the City of New 



York, where he was graduated in 1836. His 
health becoming impaired he labored for a 
time under much uncertainty as to his future 
course. Professor S. F. B. Morse had come 
to the university in 1835 ^s professor of lit- 
erature and fine arts, and about this time, 

1837, Professor Gale, occupying the chair 
of chemistry, invited Morse to exhibit his 
apparatus for the benefit of the students. 
On Saturday, September 2, 1837, the exhi- 
bition took place and Vail was asked to at- 
tend, and with his inherited taste for me- 
chanics and knowledge of their construction, 
he saw a great future for the crude mechan- 
ism used by Morse in giving and recording 
signals. Mr. Vail interested his father in 
the invention, and Morse was invited to 
Speedwell and the elder Vail promised to 
help him. It was stipulated that Alfred 
Vail should construct the required apparatus 
and exhibit before a committee of congress 
the telegraph instrument, and was to receive 
a quarter interest in the invention. Morse 
had devised a series of ten numbered leaden 
types, which were to be operated in giving 
the signal. This was not satisfactory to 
Vail, so he devised an entirely new instru- 
ment, involving a lever, or "point," on a 
radically different principle, which, when 
tested, produced dots and dashes, and de- 
vised the famous dot-and-dash alphabet, 
misnamed the " Morse. " At last the ma- 
chine was in working order, on January 6, 

1838. The machine was taken to Wash- 
ington, where it caused not only wonder, 
but excitement. Vail continued his experi- 
ments and devised the lever and roller. 
When the line between Baltimore and 
Washington was completed. Vail was sta- 
tioned at the Baltimore end and received 
the famous first message. It is a remarka- 
ble fact that not a single feature of the 
original invention of Morse, as formulated 



COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY. 



155. 



by his caveat and repeated in his original 
patent, is to be found in Vail's apparatus. 
From 1837 to 1844 it was a combination of 
the inventions of Morse, Henry and Vail, 
but the work of Morse fell gradually into 
desuetude, while Vail's conception of an 
alphabet has remained unchanged for half a 
century. Mr. Vail published but one work, 
"American Electro-Magnetic Telegraph," 
in 1845, ^nd died at Morristown at the com- 
paratively early age of fifty-one, on January 
19. 1859. 

ULYSSES S. GRANT, the eighteenth 
president of the United States, was 
born April 27, 1822, at Point Pleasant, Cler- 
mont county, Ohio. At the age of seven- 
teen he entered the United States Military 
Academy at West Point, from which he 
graduated in June, 1843, and was given his 
brevet as second lieutenant and assigned to 
the Fourth Infantry. He remained in the 
service eleven years, in which time he 
was engaged in the Mexican war with gal- 
lantry, and was thrice brevetted for conduct 
in the field. In 1848 he married Miss Julia 
Dent, and in 1854, having reached the 
grade of captain, he resigned and engaged 
in farming near St. Louis. In i860 he en- 
tered the leather business with his father at 
Galena, Illinois. 

On the breaking out of the war, in 1861, 
he commenced to drill a company at Ga- 
lena, and at the same time offered his serv- 
ices to the adjutant-general of the army, 
but he had few influential friends, so re- 
ceived no answer. He was employed by 
the governor of Illinois in the organization 
of the various volunteer regiments, and at 
the end of a few weeks was given the 
colonelcy of the Twenty- first Infantry, from 
that state. His military training and knowl- 
edge soon attracted the attention of his su- 



perior officers, and on reporting to General 
Pope in Missouri, the latter put him in 
the way of advancement. August 7, 1861, 
he was promoted to the rank of brigadier- 
general of volunteers, and for a few weeks 
was occupied in watching the movements of 
partisan forces in Missouri. September i, 
the same year, he was placed in command 
of the Department of Southeast Missouri, 
with headquarters at Cairo, and on the 6th 
of the month, without orders, seized Padu- 
cah, which commanded the channel of the 
Ohio and Tennessee rivers, by which he se- 
cured Kentucky for the Union. He now 
received orders to make a demonstration on 
Belmont, which he did, and with about three 
thousand raw recruits held his own against 
the Confederates some seven thousand 
strong, bringing back about two hundred 
prisoners and two guns. In February,] 1862, 
he moved up the Tennessee river with 
the naval fleet under Commodore Foote. 
The latter soon silenced Fort Henry, and 
Grant advanced against Fort Donelson and 
took their fortress and its garrison. His 
prize here consisted of sixty-five cannon, 
seventeen thousand six hundred stand of 
arms, and fourteen thousand six hundred 
and twenty-three prisoners. This was the 
first important success won by the Union 
forces. Grant was immediately made a 
major-general and placed in command of 
the district of West Tennessee. In April, 
1862, he fought the battle of Pittsburg Land- 
ing, and after the evacuation of Corinth by 
the enemy Grant became commander of the 
Department of the Tennessee. He now 
made his first demonstration toward Vicks- 
burg, but owing to the incapacity of subor- 
dinate officers, was unsuccessful. In Janu- 
ary, 1863, he took command of all the 
troops in the Mississippi Valley and devoted 
several months to the siege of Vicksburg, 



156 



COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHT. 



which was finally taken possession of by him 
July 4, with thirty-one thousand six hundred 
prisoners and one hundred and seventy-two 
cannon, thus throwing the Mississippi river 
open to the Federals. He was now raised 
to the rank of major-general in the regular 
army. October following, at the head of 
the Department of the Mississippi, General 
Grant went to Chattanooga, where he over- 
threw the enemy, and united with the Army 
of the Cumberland. The remarkable suc- 
cesses achieved by him pointed Grant out 
for an appropriate commander of all na- 
tional troops, and in February, 1864, the 
rank of lieutenant-general was made for him 
by act of congress. Sending Sherman into 
Georgia, Sigel into the Valley of West Vir- 
ginia and Butler to attempt the capture of 
Richmond he fought his way through the 
Wilderness to the James and pressed the 
siege of the capital of the Confederacy. 
After the fall of the latter Grant pressed 
the Confederate army so hard that their 
commander surrendered at Appomattox 
Court House, April 9, 1865. This virtually 
ended the war. 

After the war the rank of general was 
conferred upon U. S. Grant, and in 1868 he 
was elected president of the United States, 
and re-elected his own successor in 1872. 
After the expiration of the latter term he 
made his famous tour of the world. He died 
at Mt. McGregor, near Saratoga, New York, 
July 23, 1885, and was buried at Riverside 
Park, New York, where a magnificent tomb 
has been erected to hold the ashes of the 
nation's hero. 



JOHN MARSHALL, the fourth chief jus- 
tice of the United States supreme court, 
was born in Germantown, Virginia, Septem- 
ber 24, 1755 His father, Colonel Thomas 
Marshall, served with distinction in the Rev- 



olutionary war, while he also served from 
the beginning of the war until 1779, where 
he became noted in the field and courts 
martial. While on detached service he at- 
tended a course of law lectures at William 
and Mary College, delivered by Mr. Wythe, 
and was admitted to the bar. The next year 
he resigned his commission and began his 
career as a lawyer. He was a distinguished 
member of the convention called in Virginia 
to ratify the Federal constitution. He was 
tendered the attorney-generalship of the 
United States, and also a place on the su- 
preme bench, besides other places of less 
honor, all of which he declined. He 
went to France as special envoy in 1798, 
and the next year was elected to congress. 
He served one year and was appointed, first, 
secretary of war, and then secretary of state, 
and in 1801 was made chief justice of the 
United States. He held this high office un- 
til his death, in 1835. 

Chief Justice Marshall's early education 
was neglected, and his opinions, the most 
valuable in existence, are noted for depth 
of wisdom, clear and comprehensive reason- 
ing, justice, and permanency, rather than for 
wide learning and scholarly construction. 
His decisions and rulings are resorted to 
constantly by our greatest lawyers, and his 
renown as a just judge and profound jurist 
was world wide. 



LAWRENCE BARRETT is perhaps 
known more widely as a producer of 
new plays than as a great actor. He was 
born in Paterson, New Jersey, in 1838, and 
educated himself as best he could, and at 
the age of sixteen years became salesman 
for a Detroit dry goods house. He after- 
wards began to go upon the stage as a 
supernumerary, and his ambition was soon 
rewarded by the notice of the management. 



COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHT. 



15T 



During the war of the Rebellion he was a 
soldier, and after valiant service for his 
country he returned to the stage. He went 
to Europe and appeared in Liverpool, and 
returning in 1869, he began playing at 
Booth's theater, with Mr. Booth. He was 
afterward associated with John McCullough 
in the management of the California 
theater. Probably the most noted period 
of his work was during his connection with 
Edwin Booth as manager of that great 
actor, and supporting him upon the stage. 
Mr. Barrett was possessed of the crea- 
tive instinct, and, unlike Mr. Booth, he 
sought new fields for the display of his 
genius, and only resorted to traditional 
drama in response to popular demand. He 
preferred new plays, and believed in the 
encouragement of modern dramatic writers, 
and was the only actor of prominence in his 
time that ventured to put upon the stage 
new American plays, which he did at his 
own expense, and the success of his experi- 
ments proved the quality of his judgment. 
He died March 21, 1891. 



ARCHBISHOP JOHN HUGHES, a cel- 
ebrated Catholic clergyman, was born 
at Annaboghan, Tyrone county, Ireland, 
June 24, 1797, and emigrated to America 
when twenty years of age, engaging for 
some time as a gardener and nurseryman. 
In 1 8 19 he entered St. Mary's College, 
where he secured an education, paying his 
way by caring for the college garden. In 
1825 he was ordained a deacon of the Ro- 
man Catholic church, and in the same year, 
a priest. Until 1838 he had pastoral charges 
in Philadelphia, where he founded St. John's 
Asylum in 1829, and a few years later es- 
tablished the "Catholic Herald." In 1838 
he was made bishop of Basileopolis in parti- 
bus and coadjutor to Bishop Dubois, of 



New York, and in 1842 became bishop of 
New York. In 1839 he founded St. John's 
College, at Fordham. In 1850 he was 
made archbishop of New York. In i86i-2 
he was a special agent of the United States 
in Europe, after which he returned to this 
country and remained until his death, Jan- 
uary 3, 1864. Archbishop Hughes early 
attracted much attention by his controver- 
sial correspondence with Rev. John Breck- 
inridge in 1833-35. He was a man of great 
ability, a fluent and forceful writer and an 
able preacher. 



RUTHERFORD BIRCHARD HAYES 
was the nineteenth president of the 
United States and served from 1877 to 1881. 
He was born October 4, 1822, at Delaware, 
Ohio, and his ancestry can be traced back 
as far as 1280, when Hayes and Rutherford 
were two Scottish chieftans lighting side by 
side with Baliol, William Wallace and 
Robert Bruce. The Hayes family had for 
a coat of arms, a shield, barred and sur- 
mounted by a flying eagle. There was a 
circle of stars about the eagle, while on a 
scroll underneath was their motto, "Recte." 
Misfortune overtook the family and in i68a 
George Hayes, the progenitor of the Ameri- 
can family, came to Connecticut and settled 
at Windsor. Rutherford B. Hayes was 
a very delicate child at his birth and was 
not expected to live, but he lived in spite of 
all and remained at home until he was 
seven years old, when he was placed in 
school. He was a very tractablepupil, being 
always very studious, and in 1838 entered 
Kenyon College, graduating from the same 
in 1842. He then took up the study of law 
in the office of Thomas Sparrow at Colum- 
bus, but in a short time he decided to enter 
a law school at Cambridge, Massachusetts, 
where for two years he was immersed in the 



158 



COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY. 



study of law. Mr. Hayes was admitted to 
the bar in 1845 in Marietta, Ohio, and very 
soon entered upon the active practice of his 
profession with Ralph P. Buckland, of 
Fremont, Ohio. He remained there three 
years, and in 1849 removed to Cincinnati, 
Ohio, where his ambition found a new 
stimulus. Two events occurred at this 
period that had a powerful influence on his 
after life. One was his marriage to Miss 
Lucy Ware Webb, and the other was his 
introduction to a Cincinnati literary club, 
a body embracing such men as Salmon P. 
Chase, John Pope, and Edward F. Noyes. 
In 1856 he was nominated for judge of the 
court of common pleas, but declined, and 
two years later he was appointed city 
solicitor. At the outbreak of the Rebellion 
Mr. Hayes was appointed major of the 
Twenty-third Ohio Infantry, June 7, 1861, 
and in July the regiment was ordered to 
Virginia, and October 15, 1861, saw him 
promoted to the lieutenant-colonelcy of his 
regiment. He was made colonel of the 
Seventy-ninth Ohio Infantry, but refused to 
leave his old comrades; and in the battle of 
South Mountain he was wounded very 
severely and was unable to rejoin his regi- 
ment until November 30, 1862. He had 
been promoted to the colonelcy of the 
regiment on October 15, 1862. In the 
following December he was appointed to 
command the Kanawa division and was 
given the rank of brigadier-general for 
meritorious services in several battles, and 
in 1S64 he was brevetted major-general for 
distinguished services in 1864, during 
which campaign he was wounded several 
times and five horses had been shot under 
him. Mr. Hayes' first venture in politics 
was as a Whig, and later he was one of the 
first to unite with the Republican party. In 
1864 he was elected from the Second Ohio 



district to congress, re-elected in 1866, 
and in 1867 was elected governor of Ohio 
over Allen G. Thurman, and was re-elected 
in 1869. Mr. Hayes was elected to the 
presidency in 1876, for the term of four 
years, and at its close retired to private life, 
and went to his home in Fremont, Ohio, 
where he died on January 17, 1S93. 



WILLIAM JENNINGS BRYAN became 
a celebrated character as the nominee 
of the Democratic and Populist parties for 
president of the United States in 1896. He 
was born March 19, i860, at Salem, Illi- 
nois. He received his early education in 
the public schools of his native county, and 
later on he attended the Whipple Academy 
at Jacksonville. He also took a course in 
Illinois College, and after his graduation 
from the same went to Chicago to study 
law, and entered the Union College of Law 
a= a student. He was associated with the 
late Lyman Trumbull, of Chicago, during 
his law studies, and devoted considerable 
time to the questions of government. He 
graduated from the college, was admitted to 
the bar, and went to Jacksonville, Illinois, 
where he was married to Miss Mary Eliza- 
beth Baird. In 1887 Mr. Bryan removed 
to Lincoln, Nebraska, and formed a law 
partnership with Adolphus R. Talbot. He 
entered the field of politics, and in 1888 
was sent as a delegate to the state con- 
vention, which was to choose delegates to 
the national convention, during which he 
made a speech which immediately won him 
a high rank in political affairs. He declined, 
in the next state convention, a nomination 
for lieutenant-governor, and in 189c he was 
elected congressman from the First district 
of Nebraska, and was the youngest member 
of the fifty-second congress. He cham- 
pioned the Wilson tariff bill, and served 



COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHT. 



159 



three terms in the house of representatives. 
He next ran for senator, but was defeated 
by John M. Thurston, and in 1896 he was 
selected by the Democratic and Populist 
parties as their nominee for the presidency, 
being defeated by William McKinley. 



M' 



ARVIN HUGHITT. one of America's 
famous railroad men, was born in 
Genoa, New York, and entered the railway 
service in 1856 as superintendent of tele- 
graph and trainmaster of the St. Louis, Al- 
ton & Chicago, now Chicago & Alton Rail- 
road. Mr. Hughitt was superintendent of 
the southern division of the Illinois Central 
Railroad from 1862 until 1864, and was, later 
on, the general superintendent of the road 
until 1870. He was then connected with 
the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Rail- 
road as assistant general manager, and re- 
tained this position until 1871, when he be- 
came the general manager of Pullman's 
Palace Car Company. In 1872 he was made 
general superintendent of the Chicago & 
Northwestern Railroad. He served during 
1876 and up to 1880 as general manager, 
and from 1880 until 1887 as vice-presi- 
dent and general manager. He was elected 
president of the road in 1887, in recog- 
nition of his ability in conducting the 
affairs of the road. He was also chosen 
president of the Chicago, St. Paul, Minne- 
apolis & Omaha Railway; the Fremont, Elk- 
horn & Missouri Valley Railroad, and the 
Milwaukee, Lake Shore & Western Railroad, 
and his services in these capacities stamped 
him as one of the most able railroad mana- 
gers of his day. 



JOSEPH MEDILL, one of the most 
eminent of American journalists, was 
born in New Brunswick, Canada, April 6, 
1823. In 1831 his father moved to Stark 



county, Ohio, and until 1841 Joseph Medill 
worked on his father's farm. Later he 
studied law, and began the practice of that 
profession in 1846 at New Philadelphia, 
Ohio. But the newspaper field was more 
attractive to Mr. Medill, and three years 
later he founded a free-soil Whig paper at 
Coshocton, Ohio, and after that time jour- 
nalism received all his abilities. "The 
Leader, " another free-soil Whig paper, was 
founded by Mr. Medill at Cleveland in 1852. 
In that city he also became one of the first 
organizers of the Republican party. Shortly 
after that event he removed to Chicago and 
in 1855, with two partners, he purchased 
the " Chicago Tribune." In the contest for 
the nomination for the presidency in i860, 
Mr. Medill worked with unflagging zeal for 
Mr. Lincoln, his warm personal friend, and 
was one of the president's stanchest sup- 
porters during the war. Mr. Medill was a 
member of the Illinois Constitutional con- 
vention in 1870. President Grant, in 1871, 
appointed the editor a member of the firs*' 
United States civil service commission, and 
the following year, after the fire, he was 
elected mayor of Chicago by a great ma- 
jority. During 1873 and 1874 Mr. Medill 
spent a year in Europe. Upon his return 
he purchased a controlling interest in the 
" Chicago Tribune." 



CLAUSSPRECKELS, the great " sugar 
baron," and one of the most famous 
representatives of commercial life in Amer- 
ica, was born in Hanover, Germany, and 
emigrated to the United States in 1840, 
locating in New York. He very soon be- 
came the proprietor of a small retail gro- 
cery store on Church street, and embarked 
on a career that has since astonished the 
world. He sold out his business and went 
to California with the argonauts ot 1849, 



160 



COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRATHr. 



not as a prospector, but as a trader, and for 
years after his arrival on the coast he was 
still engaged as a grocer. At length, after a 
quarter of a century of fairly prosperous 
business life, he found himself in a position 
where an ordinary man would have retired, 
but Mr. Spreckles did not retire; he had 
merely been gathering capital for the real 
work of his life. His brothers had followed 
him to California, and in combination with 
them he purchased for forty thousand dollars 
an interest in the Albany Brewery in San 
Francisco. But the field was not extensive 
enough for the development of his business 
abilities, so Mr. Sprecklas branched out 
extensively in the sugar business. He suc- 
ceeded in securing the entire output of 
sugar that was produced on the Sand- 
wich Islands, and after 1885 was known as 
the "Sugar King of Sandwich Islands." 
He controlled absolutely the sugar trade of 
the Pacific coast which was known to be 
not less than ten million dollars a year. 



CHARLES HENRY PARKHURST, 
famous as a clergyman, and for many 
years president of the Society for the 
Prevention of Crime, was born April 17, 
1842, at Framingham, Massachusetts, of 
English descent. At the age of sixteen 
he was pupil in the grammar school at 
Clinton, Massachusetts, and for the ensu- 
ing two years was a clerk in a dry goods 
store, which position he gave up to prepare 
himself for college at Lancaster academy. 
Mr. Parkhurst went to Amherst in 1862, 
and after taking a thorough course he gradu- 
ated in 1866, and in 1867 became the prin- 
cipal of the Amherst High School. He re- 
tained this position until 1870, when he 
visited Germany with the intention of tak- 
ing a course in philosophy and theology, 
but was forced to abandon this intention on 



account of illness in the family causin? nis 
early return from Europe. He accepted the 
chair of Latin and Greek in Williston Semi- 
nary, Easthampton, Massachusetts, and re- 
mained there two years. He then accom- 
panied his wife to Europe, and devoted two 
years to study in Halle, Leipsic and Bonn. 
Upon his return home he spent considerable 
time in the study of Sanscrit, and in 1874 
he became the pastor of the First Congrega- 
tional church at Lenox, Massachusetts. He 
gained here his reputation as a pulpit ora- 
tor, and on March 9, 1880, he became the 
pastor of the Madison Square Presbyterian 
church of New York. He was, in 1890, 
made a member of the Society for the Pre- 
vention of Crime, and the same year be- 
came its president. He delivered a sermon 
in 1892 on municipal corruption, for which 
he was brought before the grand jury, which 
body declared his charges to be without sufB- 
cient foundation. But the matter did not end 
here, for he immediately went to work on a 
second sermon in which he substantiated his 
former sermon and wound up by saying, 
"I know, for I have seen." He was again 
summoned before that august body, and as 
a result of his testimony and of the investi- 
gation of the jurors themselves, the police 
authorities were charged with incompetency 
and corruption. Dr. Parkhurst was the 
author of the following works: ' ' The Forms 
of the Latin Verb, Illustrated by Sanscrit," 
"The Blind Man's Creed and Other Ser- 
mons," "The Pattern on the Mount," and 
" Three Gates on a Side." 



HENRY BERGH, although a writer, 
diplomatist and government official, 
was noted as a philanthropist — the founder 
of the American Society for the Prevention 
of Cruelty to Animals. On his labors for 
the dumb creation alone rests his fame. 



COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY. 



161 



Alone, in the face of indifference, opposition 
and ridicule, he began the reform which is 
now recognized as one of the beneficent 
movements of the age. Through his exer- 
tions as a speaker and lecturer, but above 
all as a bold worker, in the street, in the 
court room, before the legislature, the cause 
he adopted gained friends and rapidly in- 
creased in power until it has reached im- 
mense proportions and influence. The work 
of the society covers all cases of .cruelty to 
all sorts of animals, employs every moral 
agency, social, legislative and personal, and 
touches points of vital concern to health as 
well as humanity. 

Henry Bergh was born in New York 
City in 1823, and was educated at Colum- 
bia College. In 1863 he was made secre- 
tary of the legation to Russia and also 
served as vice-consul there. He also de- 
voted some time to literary pursuits and was 
the author of "Love's Alternative," a 
drama; "Married Off," a poem; "'The 
Portentous Telegram, " "The Ocean Para- 
gon;" "The Streets of New York," tales 
and sketches. 



HENRY BENJAMIN WHIPPLE, one 
of the most eminent of American di- 
vines, was born in Adams, Jefferson county. 
New York, February 15, 1822. He was 
brought up in the mercantile business, and 
early in life took an active interest in polit- 
ical affairs. In 1847 he became a candidate 
for holy orders and pursued theological 
studies with Rev. W. D. Wilson, D. D., 
afterward professor in Cornell University. 
He was ordained deacon in 1849, in Trinity 
church, Geneva, New York, by Rt. Rev. 
W. H. De Lancey, D. D., and took charge 
of Zion church, Rome, New York, Decem- 
ber I, 1849. In 1850, our subject was or- 
dained priest by Bishop De Lancey. In 



1857 he became rector of the Church of the 
Holy Communion, Chicago. On the 30th 
of June, 1859, he was chosen bishop of 
Minnesota, and took charge of the interests 
of the Episcopal church in that state, being 
located at Faribault. In i860 Bishop 
Whipple, with Revs. I. L. Breck, S. W. 
Mauncey and E. S. Peake, organized the 
Bishop Seabury MSssion, out of which has 
grown the Cathedral of Our Merciful Savior, 
the Seabury Divinity School, Shattuck 
School and St. Mary's Hall, which have 
made Faribault City one of the greatest 
educational centers of the northwest. Bishop 
Whipple also became noted as the friend 
and defender of the North American In- 
dians and planted a number of successful 
missions among them. 



EZRA CORNELL was one of the greatest 
philanthropists and friends of education 
the country has known. He was born at 
Westchester Landing, New York, January 
II, 1807. He grew to manhood in his na- 
tive state and became a prominent figure in 
business circles as a successful and self-made 
man. Soon after the invention of the elec- 
tric telegraph, he devoted his attention to 
that enterprise, and accumulated an im- 
mense fortune. In 1865, by a gift of five 
hundred thousand dollars, he made possible 
the founding of Cornell University, which 
was named in his honor. He afterward 
made additional bequests amounting to many 
hundred thousand dollars. His death oc- 
curred at Ithaca, New York, December 9, 
1874. 

IGNATIUS DONNELLY, widely knowi. 
i as an author and politician, was born in 
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, November 3, 
1 83 1. He was educated at the public 
schools of that city, and graduated from the 



162 



COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHT. 



Central High School in 1849. He studied 
law in the office of Judge B. H. Brewster, 
and was admitted to the bar in 1852. In 
the spring of 1856, Mr. Donnelly emigrated 
to Minnesota, then a new territory, and, at 
Hastings, resumed the practice of law in 
partnership with A. M. Hayes. In 1857, 
and again in 1858, he was defeated for state 
senator, but in 1859 he was elected by the 
Republicans as lieutenant-governor, and re- 
elected in 1 86 1. In 1862 he was elected to 
represent the Second district of Minnesota 
in congress. He was re-elected to the same 
office in 1864 and in 1866. He was an 
abolitionist and warmly supported President 
Lincoln's administration, but was strongly 
in favor of leniency toward the people of 
the south, after the war. In many ways he 
■was identified with some of the best meas- 
ures brought before the house during his 
presence there. In the spring of 1868, at 
the request of the Republican national com- 
mittee, he canvassed New Hampshire and 
Connecticut in the interests of that party. 
E. B. Washburne about this time made an 
attack on Donnelly in one of the papers of 
Minnesota, which was replied to on the floor 
of the house by a fierce phillipic that will 
long be remembered. Through the inter- 
vention of the Washburne interests Mr. Don- 
nelly failed of a re-election in 1870. In 
1 873 he was elected to the state senate from 
Dakota county, and continuously re-elected 
until 1878. In 1886 he was elected mem- 
ber of the house for two years. In later 
years he identified himself with the Popu- 
list party. 

In 1882, Mr. Donnelly became known as 
an author, publishing his first literary work, 
•■Atlantis, the Antediluvian World," which 
passed through over twenty-two editions in 
America, several in England, and was trans- 
lated into French. This was followed by 



" Ragnarok, the Age of Fire and Gravel," 
which attained nearly as much celebrity as 
the first, and these two, in the opinion of 
scientific critics, are sufficient to stamp the 
author as a most capable and painstaking 
student of the facts he has collated in them. 
The work by which he gained the greatest 
notoriety, however, was "The Great Cryp- 
togram, or Francis Bacon's Cipher in the 
Shakespeare Plays." "Caesar's Column," 
" Dr. Huguet," and other works were pub- 
lished subsequently. 



STEVEN V. WHITE, a speculator of 
Wall Street of national reputation, was 
born in Chatham county. North Carolina, 
August I, 1 83 1, and soon afterward re- 
moved to Illinois. His home was a log 
cabin, and until his eighteenth year he 
worked on the farm. Then after several 
years of struggle with poverty he graduated 
from Knox College, and went to St. Louis, 
where he entered a wholesale boot and shoe 
house as bookkeeper. He then studied law 
and worked as a reporter for the "Missouri 
Democrat." After his admission to the bar 
he went to New York, in 1865, and became 
a member of the banking house of Marvin 
& White. Mr. White enjoyed the reputa- 
tion of having engineered the only corner 
in Wall Street since Commodore Vander- 
bilt's time. This was the famous Lacka- 
wanna deal in 1883, in which he made a 
profit of two million dollars. He was some- 
times called " Deacon" White, and, though 
a member for many years of the Plymouth 
church, he never held that office. Mr. 
White was one of the most noted characters 
of the street, and has been called an orator, 
poet, philanthropist, linguist, abolitionist, 
astronomer, schoolmaster, plowboy, and 
trapper. He was a lawyer, ex-congress- 
man, expert accountant, art critic andtheo- 



COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY. 



i63 



logian. He laid the foundation for a 
"Home for Colored People," in Chatham 
county, North Carolina, where the greater 
part of his father's life was spent, and in 
whose memory the work was undertaken. 



JAMES A. GARFIELD, the twentieth 
president of the United States, was born 
November 19, 1831, in Cuyahoga county, 
Ohio, and was the son of Abram and Eliza 
(Ballou) Garfield. In 1833 the father, an 
industrious pioneer farmer, died, and the 
care of the family devolved upon Thomas, 
to whom James became deeply indebted for 
educational and other advantages. As James 
grew up he was industrious and worked on 
the farm, at carpentering, at chopping wood, 
or anything else he found to do, and in the 
meantime made the most of his books. 

Until he was about sixteen, James' high- 
est ambition was to become a sea captain. 
On attaining that age he walked to 
Cleveland, and, not being able to find work, 
he engaged as a driver on the Ohio & Penn- 
sylvania canal, but quit this after a short 
time. He attended the seminary at Ches- 
ter for about three years, after which he 
entered Hiram Institute, a school started by 
the Disciples of Christ in 1850. In order 
to pay his way he assumed the duties of 
janitor and at times taught school. After 
completing his course at the last named edu- 
cational institution he entered Williams Col- 
lege, from which he graduated in 1856. He 
afterward returned to Hiram College as its 
president. He studied law and was admitted 
to the bar in 1859. November 11, 1858, 
Mr. Garfield and Lucretia Rudolph were 
married. 

In 1859 Mr. Garfield made his first polit- 
ical speeches, at Hiram and in the neighbor- 
hood. The same year he was elected to the 
state senate. 



On the breaking out of the war, in 1861, 
he became lieutenant-colonel of the Forty- 
second Ohio Infantry, and, while but a ne^^' 
soldier, was given command of four regi- 
ments of infantry and eight companies of 
cavalry, with which he drove the Confeder- 
ates under Humphrey Marshall out of Ken 
tucky. January 11, 1862, he was commis- 
sioned brigadier-general. He participated 
with General Buell in the battle of Shiloh 
and the operations around Corinth, and was 
then detailed as a member of the Fitz John 
Porter court-martial. Reporting to Genera! 
Rosecrans, he was assigned to the position 
of chief of staff, and resigned his position, 
with the rank of major-general, when his 
immediate superior was superseded. In 
the fall of 1862 Mr. Garfield was elected to 
congress and remained in that body, either 
in the house or senate, until 1880. 

June 8, 1880, at the national Republican 
convention, held in Chicago, General Gar- 
field was nominated for the presidency, and 
was elected. He was inaugurated March 
4, 1 88 1, but, July 2, following; he was shot 
and fatally wounded by Charles Guiteau for 
some fancied political slight, and died Sep- 
tember 19, 1 88 1. 



INCREASE MATHER was one of the 
1 most prominent preachers, educators and 
authors of early times in the New England 
states. He was born at Dorchester, Massa- 
chusetts, June 21, 1639, and was given an 
excellent education, graduating at Harvard 
in 1656, and at Trinity College, Dublin, 
two years later. He was ordained a min- 
ister, and preached in England and America, 
and in 1664 became pastor of the North 
church, in Boston. In 1685 he became 
president of Harvard University, serving 
until 1 701. In 1692 he received the first 
doctorate in divinity conferred in English 



164 



COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY. 



speaking America. Tiie same year he pro- 
cured in England a new charter for Massa- 
chusetts, which conferred upon himself the 
power of naming the governor, lieutenant- 
governor and council. He opposed the 
severe punishment of witchcraft, and took 
a prominent part in all public affairs of his 
day. He was a prolific writer, and became 
the author of nearly one hundred publica- 
tions, large and small. His death occurred 
August 23, 1723, at Boston. 



COTTON MATHER, a celebrated minis- 
ter in the "Puritan times" of New 
England, was born at Boston, Massachu- 
setts, February 12, 1663, being a son of 
Rev. Increase Mather, and a grandson of 
John Cotton. A biography of his father 
will be found elsewhere in this volume. 
Cotton Mather received his early education 
in his native city, was trained by Ezekiel 
Cheever, and graduated at Harvard College 
in 1678; became a teacher, and in 1684 
was ordained as associate pastor of North 
church, Boston, with his father, having by 
persistent effort overcome an impediment in 
his speech. He labored with great zeal as 
a pastor, endeavoring also, to establish the 
ascendancy of the church and ministry in 
civil affairs, and in the putting down of 
witchcraft by legal sentences, a work in 
which he took an active part and through 
which he is best known in history. He re- 
ceived the degree of D. D. in 17 10, con- 
ferred by the University of Glasgow, and 
F. R. S. in 17 1 3. His death occurred at 
Boston, February 13, 1728. He was the 
author of many publications, among which 
were " Memorable Providences Relating to 
Witchcraft," "Wonders of the Invisible 
World," "Essays to Do Good," " Mag- 
nalia Christi Americana," and " Illusira- 
tions of the Sacred Scriptures." Some of 



these works are quaint and curious, full of 
learning, piety and prejudice. A well- 
known writer, in summing up the life and 
character of Cotton Mather, saj's: " Mather, 
with all the faults of his early years, was E 
man of great excellence of character. He 
labored zealously for the benefit of the 
poor, for mariners, slaves, criminals and 
Indians. His cruelty and credulity were 
the faults of his age, while his philanthro- 
phy was far more rare in that age than in 
the present. " 

WILLIAM A. PEFFER, who won a 
national reputation during the time 
he was in the United States senate, was 
born on a farm in Cumberland county, 
Pennsylvania, September 10, 1831. He 
drew his education from the public schools 
of his native state and at the age of fifteen 
taught school in winter, working on a farm 
in the summer. In June, 1853, while yet a 
young man, he removed to Indiana, and 
opened up a farm in St. Joseph county. 
In 1859 he made his way to Missouri and 
settled on a farm in Morgan county, but on 
account of the war and the unsettled state 
of the country, he moved to Illinois in Feb- 
ruary, 1862, and enlisted as a private in 
Company F, Eighty-third Illinois Infantry, 
the following August. He was promoted 
to the rank of second lieutenant in 
March, 1863, and served successively as 
quartermaster, adjutant, post adjutant, 
judge advocate of a military commission, 
and depot quartermaster in the engineer 
department at Nashville. He was mustered 
out of the service June 26, 1865. He had, 
during his leisure hours while in the army, 
studied law, and in August. 1865, he com- 
menced the practice of that profession at 
Clarksville, Tennessee. He removed to 
Kansas in 1870 and practiced there until 



COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHT. 



165 



1878, in the meantime establishing and 
conducting two newspapers, the " Fredonia 
Journal " and " Coffeyville Journal." 

Mr. Peffer was elected to the state senate 
in 1874 and was a prominent and influential 
member of several important committees. 
He served as a presidential elector in 1880. 
The year following he became editor of the 
" Kansas Farmer, " which he made a promi- 
nent and useful paper. In 1890 Mr. Peffer 
was elected to the United States senate as 
a member of the People's party and took 
his seat March 4, 1891. After six years of 
service Senator Peffer was succeeded in 
March, 1897, by William A. Harris. 



ROBERT MORRIS.— The name of this 
financier, statesman and patriot is 
closely connected with the early history of 
the United States. He was a native of 
England, born January 20, 1734, and came 
to America with his father when thirteen 
years old. Until 1754 he served in the 
counting house of Charles Willing, then 
formed a partnership with that gentleman's 
son, which continued with great success until 
1793. In 1776 Mr. Morris was a delegate 
to the Continental congress, and, although 
once voting against the Declaration of Inde- 
pendence, signed that paper on its adop- 
tion, and was several times thereafter re- 
elected to congress. During the Revolu- 
tionary war the services of Robert Morris 
in aiding the government during its finan- 
cial difficulties were of incalculable value; he 
freely pledged his personal credit for sup- 
plies for the army, atonetimeto the amount 
of about one and a half million dollars, with- 
out which the campaign of 1781 would have 
been almost impossible. Mr. Morris was 
appointed superintendent of finance in 1781 
and served until 1784, continuing to employ 
his personal credit to facilitate the needs of 



his department. He also served as mem- 
ber of the Pennsylvania legislature, and 
from 1786 to 1795 was United States sena- 
tor, declining meanwhile the position of sec- 
retary of the treasury, and suggesting the 
name of Alexander Hamilton, who was ap- 
pointed to that post. During the latter 
part of his life Mr. Morris was engaged ex- 
tensively in the China trade, and later be- 
came involved in land speculations, which 
ruined him, so that the remaining days of 
this noble man and patriot were passed 
in confinement for debt. His death occurred 
at Philadelphia, May 8, 1806. 



WILLIAM SHARON, a senator anr* 
capitalist, and mine owner of na 
tional reputation, was born at Smithfield, 
Ohio, January 9, 1821. He was reared 
upon a farm and in his boyhood given excel- 
lent educational advantages and in 1842 
entered Athens College. He remained in 
that institution about two years, after which 
he studied law with Edwin M. Stanton, and 
was admitted to the bar at St. Louis and 
commenced practice. His health failing, 
however, he abandoned his profession and 
engaged in mercantile pursuits at Carrollton, 
Greene county, Illinois. During the time 
of the gold excitement of 1849, Mr. Sharon 
went to California, whither so many went, 
and engaged in business at Sacramento. 
The next year he removed to San Francisco, 
where he operated in real estate. Being 
largely interested in its silver mines, he re- 
moved to Nevada, locating at Virginia City, 
and acquired an immense fortune. He be- 
came one of the trustees of the Bank of 
California, and during the troubles that 
arose on the death of William Ralston, the 
president of that institution, was largely in- 
strumental in bringing its affairs into a satis- 
factory shape. 



166 



COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY. 



Mr. Sharon was elected to represent the 
state of Nevada in the United States senate 
in 1875, and remained a member of that 
body until 1881. He was always distin- 
guished for close application to business. 
Senator Sharon died November 13, 1885. 



HENRY W. SHAW, an American hu- 
morist who became celebrated under 
the non-dc-plmne of " Josh Billings," gained 
his fame from the witticism of his writing, 
and peculiar eccentricity of style and spell- 
ing. He was born at Lanesborough, Mas- 
sachusetts, in 18 1 8. For twenty-five years 
he lived in different parts of the western 
states, following various lines of business, 
including farming and auctioneering, and in 
the latter capacity settled at Poughkeepsie, 
New York, in 1858. In 1863 he began 
writing humorous sketches for the news- 
papers over the signature of "Josh Bill- 
ings," and became immediately popular 
both as a writer and lecturer. He pub- 
lished a number of volumes of comic 
sketches and edited an " Annual Allminax " 
for a number of years, which had a wide cir- 
culation. His death occurred October 14, 
1885, at Monterey, California. 



JOHN M. THURSTON, well known 
throughout this country as a senator 
and political leader, was born at Mont- 
pelier, Vermont, August 21, 1847, of an 
old Puritan family which dated back their 
ancestry in this country to 1636, and among 
whom were soldiers of the Revolution and 
of the war of 1812-15. 

Young Thurston was brought west by 
the family in 1854, they settling at Madison, 
Wisconsin, and two years later at Beaver 
Dam, where John M. received his schooling 
in the public schools and at Wayland Uni- 
versity. His father enlisted as a private in 



the First Wisconsin Cavalry and died while 
in the service, in the spring of 1863. 

Young Thurston, thrown on his own 
resources while attaining an education, sup- 
ported himself by farm work, driving team 
and at other manual labor. He studied law 
and was admitted to the bar May 21, 1869, 
and in October of the same year located in 
Omaha, Nebraska. ' He v/as elected a 
member of the city council in 1872, city 
attorney in 1874 and a member of the Ne- 
braska legislature in 1874. He was a mem- 
ber of the Republican national convention 
of 1884 and temporary chairman of that of 
1888. Taking quite an interest in the 
younger members of his party he was instru- 
mental in forming the Republican League 
of the United States, of which he was presi- 
dent for two years. He was then elected a 
member of the United States senate, in 
1895, to represent the state of Nebraska. 

As an attorney John M. Thurston occu- 
pied a very prominent place, and for a num- 
ber of years held the position of general 
solicitor of the Union Pacific railroad sys- 
tem. 

JOHN JAMES AUDUBON, a celebrated 
American naturalist, was born in Louis- 
iana, May 4, 1780, and was the son of an 
opulent French naval officer who owned a 
plantation in the then French colony. In 
his childhood he became deeply interested 
in the study of birds and their habits. About 
1794 he was sent to Paris, France, where 
he was partially educated, and studied de- 
signing under the famous painter, Jacques 
Louis David. He returned to the Unit- 
ed States about 1798, and settled on a 
farm his father gave him, on the Perkiomen 
creek in eastern Pennsylvania. He mar- 
ried Lucy Bakewell in 1808, and, disposing 
of his property, removed to Louisville, Ken- 



COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY. 



167 



tucky, where he engaged in mercantile pur- 
suits. About two years later he began to 
make extensive excursions through the pri- 
meval forests of the southern and south- 
western states, in the exploration of which 
he passed many years. He made colored 
drawings of all the species of birds that he 
found. For several years he made his home 
with his wife and children at Henderson, on 
the Ohio river. It is said that about this 
time he had failed in business and was re- 
duced to poverty, but kept the wolf from the 
door by giving dancing lessons and in portrait 
painting. In 1824, at Philadelphia, he met 
Charles Lucien Bonaparte, who encouraged 
him to publish a work on ornithology. Two 
years later he went to England and com- 
menced the publication of his great work, 
"The Birds of America." He obtained a 
large number of subscribers at one thousand 
dollars a copy. This work, embracing five 
volumes of letterpress and five volumes of 
beautifully colored plates, was pronounced 
by Cuvier " the most magnificent monument 
that art ever raised to ornithology." 

Audubon returned to America in 1829, 
and explored the forests, lakes and coast 
from Canada to Florida, collecting material 
for another work. This was his " Ornitho- 
logical Biography; or. An Account of the 
Habits of the Birds of the United States, 
Etc." He revisited England in 1831, and 
returned in 1839, after which he resiaed on 
the Hudson, near New York City, in which 
place he died January 27, 185 1. During 
his life he issued a cheaper edition of his 
great work, and was, in association with 
Dr. Bachman, preparing a work on the 
quadrupeds of North America. 



COMMODORE THOMAS McDON- 
OUGH gained his principal fame from 
he celebrated victory which he gained over 



the superior British squadron, under Com- 
modore Downie, September 1 1, 18 14. Com- 
modore McDonough was born in Newcastle 
county, Delaware, December 23, 1783, and 
when seventeen years old entered the 
United States navy as midshipman, serving 
in the expedition to Tripoli, under Decatur, 
in 1803-4. In 1807 he was promoted to 
lieutenant, and in July, 181 3, was made a 
commander. The following year, on Lake 
Champlain, he gained the celebrated victory 
above referred to, for which he was again 
promoted; also received a gold medal from 
congress, and from the state of Vermont an 
estate on Cumberknd Head, in view of the 
scene of the engagement. His death oc- 
curred at sea, November 16, 1825, while he 
was returning from the command of the 
Mediterranean squadron. 



CHARLES FRANCIS HALL, one of 
America's most celebrated arctic ex- 
plorers, was born in Rochester, New Hamp- 
shire, in 1 82 1. He was a blacksmith by 
trade, and located in Cincinnati, where later 
he became a journalist. For several years 
he devoted a great deal of attention to cal- 
orics. Becoming interested in the fate of the 
explorer. Sir John Franklin, he joined the 
expedition fitted out by Henry Grinnell and 
sailed in the ship "George Henry," under 
Captain Buddington, which left New Lon- 
don, Connecticut, in i860. He returned in 
1862, and two years later published his 
" Arctic Researches." He again joined the 
expedition fitted out by Mr. Grinnell, and 
sailed in the ship, " Monticello," under 
Captain Buddington, this time remaining in 
the arctic region over four years. On his 
return he brought back many evidences of 
having found trace of Franklin. 

In 1 87 1 the ' ' Polaris " was fitted out by 
the United States government, and Captain 



168 



COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY. 



Hall again sailed for the polar regions. He 
died in Greenland in October, 1871, and the 
"Polaris" was finally abandoned by the 
crew, a portion of which, under Captain 
Tyson, drifted with the icebergs for one 
hundred and ninety-five days, until picked 
up by the " Tigress," on the 30th of April, 
1873. The other portion of the crew built 
boats, and, after a perilous voyage, were 
picked up in June, 1873, by a whaling vessel. 



OLIVER ELLSWORTH, the third chief 
justice of the United States, was born 
at Windsor, Connecticut, April 29, 1745. 
After graduating from Princeton, he took 
up the study of law, and was licensed 
to practice in 177 1. In 1777 he was elected 
as a delegate to the Continental congress. 
He was judge of the superior court of his 
state in 1784, and was chosen as a delegate 
to the constitutional convention in 1787. 
He sided with the Federalists, was elected 
to the United States senate in 1789, and 
was a firm supporter of Washington's policy. 
He won great distinction in that body, and 
was appointed chief justice of the supreme 
court of the United States by Washington 
in 1796. The relations between this coun- 
try and France having become violently 
strained, he was sent to Paris as envoy ex- 
traordinary in 1799, and was instrumental 
in negotiating the treaty that averted war. 
He resigned the following year, and was suc- 
ceeded, by Chief Justice Marshall. His 
death occurred November 26, 1807. 



MELLVILLE WESTON FULLER, an 
eminent American jurist and chief 
justice of the United States supreme court, 
was born in Augusta, Maine, in 1833. His 
education was looked after in boyhood, and 
at the age of sixteen he entered Bowdoin 
College, and on graduation entered the law 



department of Harvard University. He then 
entered the law office of his uncle at Ban- 
gor, Maine, and soon after opened an office 
for the practice of law at Augusta. He was 
an alderman from his ward, city attorney, 
and editor of the " Age," a rival newspaper 
of the "Journal," which was conducted by 
James G. Blaine. He soon decided to re- 
move to Chicago, then springing into notice 
as a western metropolis. He at once iden- 
tified himself with the interests of the 
new city, and by this means acquired an 
experience that fitted him for his future 
work. He devoted himself assiduously to 
his profession, and had the good fortune to 
connect himself with the many suits grow- 
ing out of the prorogation of the Illinois 
legislature in 1863. It was not long before 
he became one of the foremost lawyers in 
Chicago. He made a three days' speech in 
the heresy trial of Dr. Cheney, which added 
to his fame. He was appointed chief jus- 
tice of the United States by President Cleve- 
land in 1888, the youngest man who ever 
held that exalted position. His income from 
his practice had for many years reached 
thirty thousand dollars annually. 



CHESTER ALLEN ARTHUR, twenty- 
first president of the United States, was 
born in Franklin county, Vermont, Octo- 
ber 5, 1830. He was educated at Union 
College, Schenectady, New York, from 
which he graduated with honor, and en- 
gaged in teaching school. After two years 
he entered the law office of Judge E. D. 
Culver, of New York, as a student. He was 
admitted to the bar, and formed a partner- 
ship with an old room-mate, Henry D. Gar- 
diner, with the intention of practicing law 
in the west, but after a few months' search 
for a location, they returned to New York 
and opened an office, and at once entered 



COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHT. 



1G9 



upon a profitable practice. He was shortly 
afterwards married to a daughter of Lieu- 
tenant Herndon, of the United States navy. 
Mrs. Arthur died shortly before his nomina- 
tion for the vice-presidency. In 1856 a 
colored woman in New York was ejected 
from a street car and retained Mr. Arthur 
in a suit against the company, and obtained 
a verdict of five hundred dollars. It result- 
ed in a general order by all superintendents 
of street railways in the city to admit col- 
ored people to the cars. 

Mr. Arthur was a delegate to the first 
Republican national convention, and was 
appointed judge-advocate for the Second 
Brigade of New York, and then chief engi- 
neer of Governor Morgan's staff. At the 
close of his term he resumed the practice of 
iaw in New York. In 1872 he was made 
collector of the port of New York, which 
position he held four years. At the Chi- 
cago convention in 1880 Mr. Arthur was 
nominated for the vice-presidency with 
Garfield, and after an exciting campaign 
was elected. Four months after the inau- 
guration President Garfield was assassinated, 
and Mr. Arthur was called to take the reins 
of government. His administration of 
affairs was generally satisfactory. At its 
close he resumed the practice of law in New 
York. His death occurred November 18, 



ISAAC HULL was one of the most con- 
spicuous and prominent naval officers in 
the early history of America. He was born 
at Derby, Connecticut, March 9, 1775, be- 
ing the son of a Revolutionary officer. Isaac 
Hull early in life became a mariner, and 
when nineteen years of age became master 
of a merchant ship in the London trade. 
In 1798 he became a lieutenant in the United 
States navy, and three years later was made 



first lieutenant of the frigate ' ' Constitution. " 
He distinguished himself by skill and valor 
against the French on the coast of Hayti, and 
served with distinction in the Barbary expe- 
ditions. July 12, 1812, he sailed from 
Annapolis, in command of the "Constitu- 
tion," and for three days was pursued by a 
British squadron of five ships, from which 
he escaped by bold and ingenious seaman- 
ship. In August of the same year he cap- 
tured the frigate " Guerriere," one of his 
late pursuers and for this, the first naval 
advantage of that war, he received a gold 
medal from congress. Isaac Hull was later 
made naval commissioner and had command 
of various navy yards. His death occurred 
February 13, 1843, at Philadelphia. 



M 



ARCUS ALONZO HANNA, famous 
as a prominent business man, political 
manager and senator, was born in New Lis- 
bon, Columbiana county, Ohio, September 
24, 1837. He removed with his father's 
family to Cleveland, in the same state, in 
1852, and in the latter city; and in the 
Western Reserve College, at Hudson, Ohio, 
received his education. He became an em- 
ploye of the wholesale grocery house of 
Hanna, Garrettson & Co., his father being 
the senior member of the firm. The latter 
died in 1862, and Marcus represented his 
interest until 1867, when the business was 
closed up. 

Our subject then became a member of 
the firm of Rhodes & Co., engaged in the 
iron and coal business, but at the expira- 
tion of ten years this firm was changed to 
that of M. A. Hanna & Co. Mr. Hanna 
was long identified with the lake carrying 
business, being interested in vessels on the 
lakes and in the construction of them. As 
a director of the Globe Ship Manufacturing 
Company, of Cleveland, president of the 



170 



COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHT. 



Union National Bank, of Cleveland, president 
of the Cleveland City Railway Company, 
and president of the Chapin Mining Com- 
pany, of Lake Superior, he became promi- 
nently identified with the business world. 
He was one of the government directors of 
the Union Pacific Railroad, being appointed 
to that position in 1885 by President Cleve- 
land. 

Mr. Hanna was a delegate to the na- 
tional Republican convention of 1884, which 
was his first appearance in the political 
world. He was a delegate to the con- 
ventions of 1888 and 1896, and was elect- 
ed chairman of the Republican national 
committee the latter year, and practically 
managed the campaign of William McKin- 
ley for the presidency. In 1897 Mr. Hanna 
was appointed senator by Governor Bush- 
nell, of Ohio, to fill the vacancy caused by 
the resignation of John Sherman. 



GEORGE PEABODY was one of the 
best known and esteemed of ail philan- 
thropists, whose munificent gifts to Ameri- 
can institutions have proven of so much 
benefit to the cause of humanity. He was 
born February 18, 1795, at South Danvers, 
Massachusetts, which is now called Pea- 
body in honor of him. He received but a 
meager education, and during his early life 
he was a mercantile clerk at Thetford, Ver- 
mont, and Newburyport, Massachusetts. In 
1 8 14 he became a partner with Elisha 
Riggs, at Georgetown, District of Columbia, 
and in 1 8 1 5 they moved to Baltimore, Mary- 
land. The business grew to great propor- 
tions, and they opened branch houses at 
New York and Philadelphia. Mr. Peabody 
made several voyages to Europe of com- 
mercial importance, and in 1829 became the 
head of the firm, which was then called 
Peabody, Riggs & Co., and in 1S38 he re- 



moved to London, England. He retired 
from the firm, and established the cele- 
brated banking house, in which he accumu- 
lated a large fortune. He aided Mr. Grin- 
nell in fitting out Dr. Kane's Arctic e.xpedi- 
tion, in 1852, and founded in the same year 
the Peabody Institute, in his native town, 
which he afterwards endowed with two hun- 
dred thousand dollars. Mr. Peabody visited 
the United States in 1857, and gave three 
hundred thousand dollars for the establish- 
ment at Baltimore of an institute of science, 
literature and fine arts. In 1862 he gave 
two million five hundred thousand dollars 
for the erecting of lodging houses for the 
poor in London, and on another visit to the 
United States he gave one hundred and fifty 
thousand dollars to establish at Harvard a 
museum and professorship of American 
archeology and ethnology, an equal sum for 
the endowment of a department of physical 
science at Yale, and gave the "Southern 
Educational Fund " two million one hundred 
thousand dollars, besides devoting two hun- 
dred thousand dollars to various objects of 
public utility. Mr. Peabody made a final 
visit to the United States in 1869, and on 
this occasion he raised the endowment of 
the Baltimore Institute one million dollars, 
created the Peabody Museum, at Salem, 
Massachusetts, with a fund of one hundred 
and fifty thousand dollars, gave sixty thou- 
sand dollars to Washington College, Vir- 
ginia; fifty thousand dollars for a "Peabody 
Museum, " at North Danvers, thirty thousand 
dollars to Phillips Academy, Andover; twen- 
ty-five thousand dollars to Kenyon College, 
Ohio, and twenty thousand dollars to the 
Maryland Historical Society. Mr. Peabody 
also endowed an art school at Rome, in 

1868. He died in London, November 4, 

1869, less then a month after he had re- 
turned from the United States, and his 



COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY. 



171 



remains were brought to the United States 
and interred in his native town. He made 
several other bequests in his will, and left 
his family about five million dollars. 



MATTHEW S. QUAY, a celebrated 
public man and senator, was born at 
Dillsburgh, York county, Pennsylvania, 
September 30, 1833, of an old Scotch-Irish 
family, some of whom had settled in the 
Keystone state in 1715. Matthew received 
a good education, graduating from the Jef- 
ferson College at Canonsburg, Pennsylvania, 
at the age of seventeen. He then traveled, 
taught school, lectured, and studied law 
under Judge Sterrett. He was admitted to 
the bar in 1854, was appointed a prothon- 
otaiy in 1855 and elected to the same 
office in 1856 and 1859. Later he was 
made lieutenant of the Pennsylvania Re 
serve>, lieutenant-colonel and assistant com- 
missary-general of the state, private secre- 
tary of the famous war governor of Pennsyl- 
vania, Andrew G. Curtin, colonel of the 
One Hundred and Thirty-fourth Pennsylva- 
nia Infantry (nine months men), military 
state agent and held other offices at different 
times. 

Mr. Quay was a member of the house of 
representatives of the state of Pennsylvania 
from 1865 to 1868. He filled the office of 
secretary of the commonwealth from 1872 
to 1878, and the position of delegate-at- 
large to the Republican national conventions 
of 187*, 1876, 1880 and 1888. He was the 
editor of the "Beaver Radical" and the 
"Philadelphia Record" for a time, and held 
many offices in the state conventions and on 
their committees. He was elected secre- 
tary of the commonwealth of Pennsylvania, 
1869, and served three years, and in 1885 
was chosen state treasurer. In 1886 his 
great abilities pointed him out as the 



natural candidate for United States senator, 
and he was accordingly elected to that posi- 
tion and re-elected thereto in 1892. He 
was always noted for a genius for organiza- 
tion, and as a political leader had but few 
peers. Cool, serene, far-seeing, resourceful, 
holding his impulses and forces in hand, he 
never quailed from any policy he adopted, 
and carried to success most, if not all, of 
the political campaigns in which he took 
part. 

JAMES K. JONES, a noted senator and 
political leader, attained national fame 
while chairman of the national executive 
committee of the Democratic party in the 
presidential campaign of 1896. He was a 
native of Marshall county, Mississippi, and 
was born September 29, 1839. His father, 
a well-to-do planter, settled in Dallas county, 
Arkansas, in 1848, and there the subject of 
this sketch received a careful education. 
During the Civil war he served as a private 
soldier in the Confederate army. From 
1866 to 1873 he passed a qCiiet life as a 
planter, but in the latter year was admitted 
to the bar and began the practice of law. 
About the same time he was elected to the 
Arkansas senate and re-elected in 1874. In 
1877 he was made president of the senate 
and the following year was unsuccessful in 
obtaining a nomination as member of con- 
gress. In 1880 he was elected representa- 
tive and his ability at once placed him in a 
foremost position. He was re-elected to 
congress in 1882 and in 1884, and served as 
an influential member on the committee of 
ways and means. March 4, 1885, Mr. Jones 
took his seat in the United States senate to 
succeed James D. Walker, and was after- 
ward re-elected to the same office. In this 
branch of the national legislature his capa- 
bilities had a wider scope, and he was rec- 



172 



COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHT. 



ognized as one of the ablest leaders of his 
party. 

On the nomination of William J. Bryan 
as its candidate for the presidency by the 
national convention of the Democratic 
prarty, held in Chicago in 1896, Mr. Jones 
was made chairman of the national com- 
mittee. 

THEODORE THOMAS, one of the most 
celebrated musical directors America 
has known, was born in the kingdom of Han- 
over in 1835, and received his musical educa- 
tion from his father. He was a very apt scholar 
and played the violin at public concerts at 
the age of six years. He came with his 
parents to America in 1845, and joined the 
orchestra of the Italian Opera in New York 
City. He played the first violin in the 
orchestra which accompanied Jenny Lind 
in her first American concert. In 1861 Mr. 
Thomas established the orchestra that be- 
came famous under his management, and 
gave his first symphony concerts in New 
York in 1864. He began his first "summer 
night concerts" in the same city in 1868, 
and in 1869 he started on his first tour of 
the principal cities in the United States, 
which he made every year for many years. 
He was director of the College of Music in 
Cincinnati, Ohio, but resigned in 1880, after 
having held the position for three years. 

Later he organized one of the greatest 
and most successful orchestras ever brought 
together in the city of Chicago, and was 
very prominent in musical affairs during the 
World's Columbian Exposition, thereby add- 
ing greatly to his fame. 



CYRUS HALL McCORMICK, the fa- 
mous inventor and manufacturer, was 
born at Walnut Grove, Virginia, February 
15,1 809. When he was seven j'ears old his 



father invented a reaping machine. It was 
a rude contrivance and not successful. In 
1 83 1 Cyrus made his invention of a reaping 
machine, and had it patented three years 
later. By successive improvements he was 
able to keep his machines at the head of 
its class during his life. In 1 845 he removed 
to Cincinnati, Ohio, and two years later 
located in Chicago, where he amassed a 
great fortune in manufacturing reapers and 
harvesting machinery. In 1859 he estab- 
lished the Theological Seminary of the 
Northwest at Chicago, an institution for pre- 
paring young men for the ministry in the 
Presbyterian church, and he afterward en- 
dowed a chair in the Washington and Lee 
College at Lexington, Virginia. He mani- 
fested great interest in educational and re- 
ligious matters, and by his great wealth he 
was able to extend aid and encouragement 
to many charitable causes. His death oc- 
curred May 13, 1884. 



DAVID ROSS LOCKE.— Under the 
pen name of Petroleum V. Nasby, this 
well-known humorist and writer made for 
himself a household reputation, and estab- 
lished a school that has many imitators. 

The subject of this article was born at 
Vestal, Broome county. New York, Sep- 
tember 30, 1833. After receiving his edu- 
cation in the county of his birth he en- 
tered the office of the " Democrat," at Cort- 
land, New York, where he learned the 
printer's trade. He was successively editor 
and publisher of the ' 'Plymouth Advertiser, " 
the "Mansfield Herald," the " Bucyrus 
Journal," and the "Findlay Jeffersonian." 
Later he became editor of the "Toledo 
Blade." In i860 he commenced his 
" Nasby" articles, several series of which 
have been given the world in book form. 
Under a mask of misspelling, and in a auaiot 



COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHT. 



178 



and humorous style, a keen political satire 
is couched — a most effective weapon. 
Mr. Locke was the author of a num- 
ber of serious political pamphlets, and 
later on a more pretentious work, " The 
Morals of Abou Ben Adhem." As a news- 
paper writer he gained many laurels and his 
works are widely read. Abraham Lincoln 
is said to have been a warm admirer of P. 
V. Nasby, of " Confedrit X Roads" fame. 
Mr. Locke died at Toledo, Ohio, February 
15, 1888. 

RUSSELL A. ALGER, noted as a sol- 
dier, governor and secretary of war, 
was born in Medina county, Ohio, February 
27, 1836, and was the son of Russell and 
Caroline (Moulton) Alger. At the age of 
twelve years he was left an orphan and pen- 
niless. For about a year he worked for 
his board and clothing, and attended school 
part of the time. In 1850 he found a place 
which paid small wages, and out of his 
scanty earnings helped his brother and sister. 
While there working on a farm he found 
time to attend the Richfield Academy, and 
by hard work between times managed to get 
a fair education for that time. The last 
two years of his attendance at this institu- 
tion of learning he taught school during the 
winter months. In 1857 he commenced the 
study of law, and was admitted to the bar 
in 1859. For a while he found employ- 
ment in Cleveland, Ohio, but impaired 
health induced him to remove to Grand 
Rapids, where he engaged in the lumber 
business. He was thus engaged when the 
Civil war broke out, and, his business suf- 
fering and his savings swept away, he en- 
listed as a private in the Second Michigan 
Cavalry. He was promoted to be captain 
the following month, and major for gallant 
conduct at Boonesville, Mississippi, July i. 



1862. October 16, 1862, he was made 
lieutenant-colonel of the Sixth Michigan 
Cavalry, and in February, 1863, colonel of 
the Fifth Michigan Cavalry. He rendered 
excellent service in the Gettysburg cam- 
paign. He was wounded at Boonesboro, 
Maryland, and on returning to his command 
took part with Sherman in the campaign in 
the Shenandoah Valley. For services ren- 
dered, that famous soldier recommended 
him for promotion, and he was brevetted 
major-general of volunteers. In 1866 Gen- 
eral Alger took up his residence at Detroit, 
and prospered exceedingly in his business, 
which was that of lumbering, and grew 
quite wealthy. In 1884 he was a delegate 
to the Republican national convention, and 
the same year was elected governor of 
Michigan. He declined a nomination for 
re-election to the latter office, in 1887, and 
was the following year a candidate for the 
nomination for president. In 1889 he was 
elected commander-in-chief of the Grand 
Army of the Republic, and at different 
times occupied many offices in other or- 
ganizations. 

In March, 1897, President McKinley 
appointed General Alger secretary of war. 



CYRUS WEST FIELD, the father of 
submarine telegraphy, was the son of 
the Rev. David D. Field, D.D., a Congre- 
gational minister, and was born at Stock- 
bridge, Massachusetts, November 30, 1819. 
He was educated in his native town, and at 
the age of fifteen years became a clerk in a 
store in New York City. Being gifted with 
excellent business ability Mr. Field pros- 
pered and became the head of a large mer- 
cantile house. In 1853 he spent about six 
months in travel in South America. On his 
return he became interested in ocean teleg- 
raphy. Being solicited to aid in the c^^u- 



174 



COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHT. 



struction of a land telegraph across New 
Foundland to receive the news from a line 
of fast steamers it was proposed to run from 
from Ireland to St. Johns, the idea struck 
him to carry the line across the broad At- 
lantic. In 1850 Mr. Field obtained a con- 
cession from the legislature of Newfound- 
land, giving him the sole right for fifty years 
to land submarine cables on the shores of 
that island. In company with Peter Cooper, 
Moses Taylor, Marshall O. Roberts and 
Chandler White, he organized a company 
under the name of the New York, New- 
foundland & London Telegraph Company. 
In two years the line from New York across 
Newfoundland was built. The first cable 
connecting Cape Breton Island with New- 
foundland having been lost in a storm while 
being laid in 1855, another was put down in 
1856. In the latter year Mr. Field, went to 
London and organized the Atlantic Tele- 
graph Company, furnishing one-fourth of the 
capital himself. Both governments loaned 
ships to carry out the enterprise. Mr. Field 
accompanied the expeditions of 1857 and 
two in 1858. The first and second cables 
were failures, and the third worked but a 
short time and then ceased. The people of 
both continents became incredulous of the 
feasibility of laying a successful cable under 
so wide an expanse of sea, and the war 
breaking out shortly after, nothing was done 
until 1865-66. Mr. Field, in the former 
year, again made the attempt, and the Great 
Eastern laid some one thousand two hun- 
dred miles when the cable parted and was 
lost. The following year the same vessel 
succeeded in laying the entire cable, and 
picked up the one lost the year before, and 
both were carried to America's shore. After 
thirteen years of care and toil Mr. Field had 
his reward. He was the recipient of many 
medals and honors from both home and 



abroad. He gave his attention after this 
to establishing telegraphic communication 
throughout the world and many other large 
enterprises, notably the construction of ele- 
vated railroads in New York. Mr. Field 
died July 1 1, 1892. 



G ROVER CLEVELAND, the twenty- 
second president of the United States, 
was born in Caldwell, Essex county. New 
Jersey, March 18, 1837, and was the son 
of Rev. Richard and Annie (Neale) Cleve- 
land. The father, of distinguished New 
England ancestry, was a Presbyterian min- 
ister in charge of the church at Caldwell at 
the time. 

When Grover was about three years of 
age the family removed to Fayetteville, 
Onondaga county. New York, where he 
attended the district school, and was in the 
academy for a short time. His father be- 
lieving that boys should early learn to labor, 
Grover entered a village store and worked 
for the sum of fifty dollars for the first year. 
While he was thus engaged the family re- 
moved to Clinton, New York, and there 
young Cleveland took up h>s studies at the 
academy. The death of his father dashed 
all his hopes of a collegiate education, the 
family being left in straightened circum- 
stances, and Grover started out to battle 
for himself. After acting for a year (1853- 
54) as assistant teacher and bookkeeper in 
the Institution for the Blind at New York 
City, he went to Buffalo. A short time 
after he entered the law office of Rogers, 
Bowen & Rogers, of that city, and after a 
hard struggle with adverse circumstances, 
was admitted to the bar in 1859. Hebe- 
came confidential and managing clerk for 
the firm under whom he had studied, and 
remained with them until 1863. In the lat- 
ter year he was appointed district attornej' 



COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHT. 



175 



Oi Erie county. It was during his incum- 
bency of this office that, on being nominated 
by the Democrats for supervisor, he came 
within thirteen votes of election, although 
the district was usually Republican by two 
hundred and fifty majority. In i866Grover 
Cleveland formed a partnership with Isaac 
V. Vanderpoel. The most of the work here 
fell upon the shoulders of our subject, and 
he soon won a good standing at the bar of 
the state. In 1869 Mr. Cleveland associated 
himself in business with A. P. Laning and 
Oscar Folsom, and under the firm name of 
Laning, Cleveland & Folsom soon built up a 
fair practice. In the fall of 1870 Mr. Cleve- 
land was elected sheriff of Erie county, an 
office which he filled for four years, after 
which he resumed his profession, with L. K. 
Bass and Wilson S. Bissell as partners. 
This firm was strong and popular and 
shortly was in possession of a lucrative 
practice. Mr. Bass retired from the firm 
in 1879, and George J. Secard was admit- 
ted a member in 188 1. In the latter year 
Mr. Cleveland was elected mayor of Buffalo, 
and in 1882 he was chosen governor by 
the enormous majority of one hundred and 
ninety-two thousand votes. July 11, 1884, 
he was nominated for the presidency by the 
Democratic national convention, and in 
November following was elected. 

Mr. Cleveland, after serving one term as 
president of the United States, in 1888 was 
nominated by his party to succeed himself, 
but he failed of the election, being beaten 
by Benjamin Harrison. In 1892, however, 
being nominated again in opposition to the 
then incumbent of the presidency, Mr. Har- 
rison, Grover Cleveland was elected pres- 
ident for the second time and served for the 
usual term of four years. In 1897 Mr. 
Cleveland retired from the chair of the first 
magistrate of the nation, and in New York 



City resumed the practice of law, in which 
city he had established himself in 1889. 

June 2, 1886, Grover Cleveland was 
united in marriage with Miss Frances Fol- 
som, the daughter of his former partner. 



ALEXANDER WINCHELL, for many 
years one of the greatest of American 
scientists, and one of the most noted and 
prolific writers on scientific subjects, was 
born in Duchess county. New York, Decem- 
ber 31, 1824. He received a thorough col- 
legiate education, and graduated at the 
Wesleyan University, Middletown, Connect- 
icut, in 1847. His mind took a scientific 
turn, which manifested itself while he was 
yet a boy, and in 1848 he became teacher 
of natural sciences at the Armenian Semi- 
nary, in his native state, a position which 
he filled for three years. In 185 1-3 he oc- 
cupied the same position in the Mesopo- 
tamia Female Seminary, in Alabama, after 
which he was president of the Masonic Fe- 
male Seminary, in Alabama. In 1853 he 
became connected with the University of 
Michigan, at Ann Arbor, at which institu- 
tion he performed the most important work 
of his life, and gained a wide reputation as 
a scientist. He held many important posi- 
tions, among which were the following: 
Professor of physics and civil engineering at 
the University of Michigan, also of geology, 
zoology and botany, and later professor of 
geology and palaeontology at the same insti- 
tution. He also, for a time, was president 
of the Michigan Teachers' Association, and 
state geologist of Michigan. Professor 
Winchell was a very prolific writer on scien- 
tific subjects, and published many standard 
works, his most important and widely known 
being those devoted to geology. He also 
contributed a large number of articles to 
scientific and popular journals. 



176 



COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHT. 



ANDREW HULL FOOTE, of the 
United States navy, was a native of 
New England, born at New Haven, Con- 
necticut, May 4, 1808. . He entered the 
navy, as a midshipman, December 4, 1822. 
He slovvly rose in his chosen profession, at- 
taining the rank of lieutenant in 1830, com- 
mander in 1852 and captain in 1861. 
Among the distinguished men in the break- 
ing out of the Civil war, but few stood higher 
in the estimation of his brother officers than 
Foote, and when, in the fall of 1861, he 
was appointed to the command of the flotilla 
then building on the Mississippi, the act 
gave grea"; satisfaction to the service. 
Although embarrassed by want of navy 
yards and supplies, Foote threw himself into 
his new work with unusual energy. He 
overcame all obstacles and in the new, and, 
until that time, untried experiment, of creat- 
ing and maintaining a navy on a river, 
achieved a success beyond the expectations 
of the country. Great incredulity existed as 
to the possibility of carrying on hostilities 
on a river where batteries from the shore 
might bar the passage. But in spite of all, 
Foote soon had a navy on the great river, 
and by the heroic qualities of the crews en- 
trusted to him, demonstrated the utility of 
this new departure in naval architecture. 
All being prepared, February 6, 1862, Foote 
took Fort Henry after a hotly-contested 
action. On the 14th of the same month, 
for an hour and a half engaged the batteries 
of Fort Donelson, with four ironclads and 
two wooden gunboats, thereby dishearten- 
ing the garrison and assisting in its capture. 
April 7th of the same year, after several 
hotly-contested actions. Commodore Foote 
received the surrender of Island No. 10, one 
of the great strongholds of the Confederacy 
on the Mississippi river. Foote having been 
wounded at Fort Donelson, and by neglect 



it having become so serious as to endanger 
his life, he was forced to resign his command 
and return home. June 16, 1862, he re- 
ceived the thanks of congress and was pro- 
moted to the rank of rear admiral. He was 
appointed chief of the bureau of equipment 
and recruiting. June 4, 1863, he was 
ordered to the fleet off Charleston, to super- 
cede Rear Admiral Dupont, but on his way 
to that destination was taken sick at New 
York, and died June 26, 1863. 



NELSON A. MILES, the well-known sol- 
dier, was born at Westminster, Massa- 
chusetts, August 8, T 839. His ancestors set- 
tled in that state in 1643 among the early 
pioneers, and their descendants were, many 
of them, to be found among those battling 
against Great Britain during Revolutionary 
times and during the war of 18 12. Nelson 
was reared on a farm, received an academic 
education, and in early manhood engaged in 
mercantile pursuits in Boston. Early in 

1 86 1 he raised a company and offered hi? 
services to the government, and although 
commissioned as captain, on account of his 
youth went out as first lieutenant in the 
Twenty-second Massachusetts Infantry. In 

1862 he was commissioned lieutenant-colonel 
and colonel of the Sixty-first New York In- 
fantry. At the request of Generals Grant 
and Meade he was made a brigadier by 
President Lincoln. He participated in all 
but one of the battles of the Army of the 
Potomac until the close of the war. During 
the latter part of the time he commanded 
the first division of the Second Corps. 
General Miles was wounded at the battles 
of Fair Oaks, Fredericksburg and Chan- 
cellorsville, and received four brevets for 
distinguished service. During the recon- 
struction period he commanded in North 
Carolina, and on the reorganization of the 



COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY. 



VII 



regular army he was made colonel of in- 
fantry. In 1880 he was promoted to the 
rank of brigadier-general, and in 1890 to 
that of major-general. He successfully con- 
ducted several campaigns among the In- 
dians, and his name is known among the 
tribes as a friend when they are peacefully 
inclined. He many times averted war 
with the red men by judicious and humane 
settlement of difficulties without the military 
power. In 1892 General Miles was given 
command of the proceedings in dedicating 
the World's Fair at Chicago, and m the 
summer of 1894, during the great railroad 
strike at the same city. General Miles, then 
in command of the department, had the 
disposal of the troops sent to protect the 
United States mails. On the retirement of 
General J. M. Schofield, in 1S95, General 
Miles became the ranking major-general of 
the United States army and the head of its 
forces. 

JUNIUS BRUTUS BOOTH, the great 
actor, though born in London (1796), is 
more intimately connected with the Amer- 
ican than with the English stage, and his 
popularity in America was almost un- 
bounded, while in England he was not a 
prime favorite. He presented " Richard III. " 
in Richmond on his first appearance on the 
American stage in 1821. This was his 
greatest role, and in it he has never had an 
equal. In October of the same year he 
appeared in New York. After a long and 
successful career he gave his final perform- 
ance at New Orleans in 1852. He con- 
tracted a severe cold, and for lack of proper 
medical attention, it resulted in his death 
on Noyember 30th of that year. He was, 
without question, one of the greatest tra- 
gedians that ever lived. In addition to his 
professional art and genius, he was skilled 



in languages, drawing, painting and sculp- 
ture. In his private life he was reserved, 
and even eccentric. Strange stories are 
related of his peculiarities, and on his farm 
near Baltimore he forbade the use of animal 
food, the taking of animal life, and even the 
felling of trees, and brought his butter and 
eggs to the Baltimore markets in person. 

Junius Brutus Booth, known as the elder 
Booth, gave to the world three sons of note: 
Junius Brutus Booth, Jr., the husband of 
Agnes Booth, the actress; John Wilkes 
Booth, the author of the greatest tragedy 
in the life of our nation; Edwin Booth, in 
his day the greatest actor of America, if not 
of the world. 

JAMES MONTGOMERY BAILEY, fa- 
mous as the "Danbury News Man," 
was one of the best known American humor- 
ists, and was born September 25, 1841, at 
Albany, N. Y. He adopted journalism as a 
profession and started in his chosen work on 
the "Danbury Times," which paper he pur- 
chased on his return from the war. Mr. 
Bailey also purchased the "Jeffersonian," 
another paper of Danbury, and consolidated 
them, forming the "Danbury News," which 
paper soon acquired a celebrity throughout 
the United States, from an incessant flow of 
rich, healthy, and original humor, which the 
pen of the editor imparted to its columns, 
and he succeeded in raising the circulation 
of the paper from a few hundred copies a 
week to over forty thousand. The facilities 
of a country printing office were not so com- 
plete in those days as they are now, but Mr. 
Bailey was resourceful, and he put on re- 
lays of help and ran his presses night and 
day, and always prepared his matter a week 
ahead of time. The "Danbury News Man" 
was a new figure in literature, as his humor 
was so different from that of the newspaper 



178 



COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY. 



-wits — who had preceded him, and he maybe 
called the pioneer of that school now so 
familiar. Mr. Bailey published in book 
form "Life in Danbury" and "The Danbury 
News Man's Almanac. " One of his most 
admirable traits was philanthrophy, as he 
gave with unstinted generosity to all comers, 
and died comparatively poor, notwithstand- 
ing his ownership of a very profitable busi- 
ness which netted him an income of $40,000 
a year. He died March 4, 1894. 



MATTHEW HALE CARPENTER, a 
famous lawyer, orator and senator, 
•was born in Moretown, Vermont, December 
22, 1824. After receiving a common-school 
■education he entered the United States 
Military Academy at West Point, but only 
remained two years. On returning to his 
liome he commenced the study of law with 
Paul Dillingham, afterwards governor of 
Vermont, and whose daughter he married. 
In 1847 he was admitted to practice at the 
bar in Vermont, but he went to Boston and 
for a time studied with Ruf us Choate. In 1 848 
he moved west, settling at Beloit, Wisconsin, 
and commencing the practice of his profes- 
sion soon obtained a wide reputation for 
ability. In 1856 Mr. Carpenter removed to 
Milwaukee, where he found a wider field for 
his now increasing powers. During the 
Civil war, although a strong Democrat, he 
was loyal to the government and aided the 
Union cause to his utmost. In 1868 he 
was counsel for the government in a test 
case to settle the legality of the reconstruc- 
tion act before the United States supreme 
court, and won his case against Jeremiah S. 
Black. This gave him the election for sen- 
ator from Wisconsin in 1869, and he served 
until 1875, during part of which time he was 
president pi-o tempore of the senate. Failing 
01 a re-election Mr. Carpenter resumed the 



practice of law, and when William W. 
Belknap, late secretary of war, was im- 
peached, entered the case , for General 
Belknap, and secured an acquittal. During 
the sitting of the electoral commission of 
1877, Mr. Carpenter appeared for Samuel 
J. Tilden, although the Republican man- 
agers had intended to have him represent 
R. B. Hayes. Mr. Carpenter was elected 
to the United States senate again in 1879, 
and remained a member of that body until 
the day of his death, which occurred at 
Washington, District of Columbia, Feb- 
ruary 24, i8S£. 

Senator Carpenter's real name was De- 
catur Merritt Hammond Carpenter but about 
1852 he changed it to the one by which he 
was universally known. 



THOMAS E. WATSON, lawyer and 
congressman, the well-known Geor- 
gian, whose name appears at the head of 
this sketch, made himself a place in the his- 
tory of our country by his ability, energy 
and fervid oratory. He was born in Col- 
umbia (now McDuffie) county, Georgia, 
September 5, 1856. He had a common- 
school education, and in 1872 entered Mer- 
cer University, at Macon, Georgia, as fresh- 
man, but for want of money left the college 
at the end of his sophomore year. He 
taught school, studying law at the same 
time, until 1875, when he was admitted to 
the bar. He opened an office and com- 
menced practice in Thomson, Georgia, in 
November, 1876. He carried on a success- 
ful business, and bought land and farmed on 
an extensive scale. 

Mr. Watson was a delegate to the Demo- 
cratic state convention of 1880, and was a 
member of the house of representatives of 
the legislature of his native state in 1882. 
In 1888 he was an elector-at-large on the 



COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHT. 



179 



Cleveland ticket, and in 1890 was elected 
to represent his district in the fifty-second 
congress. This latter election is said to have 
been due entirely to Mr. Watson's "dash- 
ing display of ability, eloquence and popular 
power." In his later years he championed 
the alliance principles and policies until he 
became a leader in the movement. In the 
heated campaign of 1896, Mr. Watson was 
nominated as the candidate for vice-presi- 
dent on the Bryan ticket by that part of the 
People's party that would not endorse the 
nominee for the same position made by the 
Democratic party. 



FREDERICK A. P. BARNARD, mathe- 
matician, physicist and educator, was 
born in Sheffield, Massachusetts, May 5, 1809. 
He graduated from Yale College in 1828, and 
in 1830 became a tutor in the same. From 
1837 to 1848 he was professor of mathe- 
matics and natural philosophy in the Uni- 
versity of Alabama, and from 1848 to 1850, 
professor of chemistry and natural history 
in the same educational institution. In 
1854 he became connected with the Univer- 
sity of Mississippi, of which he became 
president in 1856, and chancellor in 1858. 
In 1854 he took orders in the Protestant 
Episcopal church. In 1861 Professor Barnard 
resigned his chancellorship and chair in the 
university, and in 1863 and 1864 was con- 
nected with the United States coast survey 
in charge of chart printing and lithography. 
In May, 1864, he was elected president of 
Columbia College, New York City, which 
he served for a number of years. 

Professor Barnard received the honorary 
degree of LL. D. from Jefferson College, 
Mississippi, in 1855, and from Ya'e College 
in 1859; also the degree of S. T. D. from 
the University of Mississippi in i86r, and 
that of L. H. D. from the regents of the 



University of the State of New York in 1872. 
In 1 860 he was a member of the eclipse 
party sent by the United States coast sur- 
vey to Labrador, and during his absence 
was elected president of the American Asso- 
ciation for the Advancement of Science. la 
the act of congress establishing the National 
Academy of Sciences in 1863, he was named 
as one of the original corporators. In 1867 
he was one of the United States commis- 
sioners to the Paris Exposition. He was 
a member of the American Philosophical 
Society, associate member of the Amer- 
ican Academy of Arts and Sciences, and 
many other philosophical and scientific 
societies at home and abroad. Dr. Barnard 
was thoroughly identified with the progress 
of the age in those branches. His published 
works relate wholly to scientific or educa- 
tional subjects, chief among which are the 
following: Report on Collegiate Education; 
Art Culture; History of the American Coast 
Survey; University Education; Undulatory 
Theory of Light; Machinery and Processes 
of the Industrial Arts, and Apparatus of the 
Exact Sciences, Metric System of Weights 
and Measures, etc. 



EDWIN McMASTERS STANTON, the 
secretary of war during the great Civil 
war, was recognized as one of America's 
foremost public men. He was born Decem- 
ber 19, 1 8 14, at Steubenville, Ohio, where 
he received his education and studied law. 
He was admitted to the bar in 1836, and 
was reporter of the supreme court of Ohio 
from 1842 until 1845. He removed to 
Washington in 1856 to attend to his prac- 
tice before the United States supreme 
court, and in 1858 he went to California as 
counsel for the government in certain land 
cases, which he carried to a successful 
conclusion. Mr. Stanton was appointed 



180 



COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY. 



attorney-general of the United States in 
December, i860, by President Buchanan. 
On March 4, 1861, Mr. Stanton went with 
the outgoing administration and returned to 
the practice of his profession. He was 
appointed secretary of war by President 
Lincoln January 20, 1862, to succeed Simon 
Cameron. After the assassination of Presi- 
dent Lincoln and the accession of Johnson 
to the presidency, Mr. Stanton was still in 
the same office. He held it for three years, 
and by his strict adherence to the Repub- 
lican party, he antagonized President John- 
son, who endeavored to remove him. On 
August 5, 1867, the president requested him 
to resign, and appointed General Grant to 
succeed him, but when congress convened 
in December the senate refused to concur in 
the suspension. Mr. Stanton returned to 
his post until the president again removed 
him from office, but was again foiled by 
congress. Soon after, however, he retired 
voluntarily from office and took up the 
practice of law, in which he engaged until 
his death, on December 24, 1869. 



ALEXANDER CAMPBELL, the eminent 
theologian and founder of the church 
known as Disciples of Christ, was born in 
the country of Antrim, Ireland, in June, 
1788, and was the son of Rev. Thomas 
Campbell, a Scoth-Irish "Seceder. " After 
studying at the University of Glasgow, he, 
in company with his father, came to America 
in 1808, and both began labor in western 
Pennsylvania to restore Christianity to 
apostolic simplicity. They organized a 
church at Brush Run, Washington county, 
Pennsylvania, in 181 i, which, however, the 
year following, adopted Baptist views, and 
in 181 3, with other con;;regations joined a 
Baptist as'^ociation. Some of the under- 
lying principles and many practices of the 



Campbells and their disciples were repug- 
nant to the Baptist church and considerable 
friction was the result, and 1827 saw the 
separation of that church from the Church 
of Christ, as it is sometimes calied. The 
latter then reorganized themselves anew. 
They reject all creeds, professing to receive 
the Bible as their only guide. In most mat- 
ters of faith they are essentially in accord with 
the other Evangelical Christian churches, 
especially in regard to the person and work 
of Christ, the resurrection and judgment. 
They celebrate the Lord's Supper weekly, 
hold that repentance and faith should precede 
baptism, attaching much importance to the 
latter ordinance. On all other points they 
encourage individual liberty of thought. In 
1841, Alexander Campbell founded Bethany 
College, West \'irginia, of which he was 
president for many years, and died March 4, 
1866. 

The denomination which they founded 
is quite a large and important church body 
in the United States. They support quite 
a number of institutions of learning, among 
which are: Bethany College, West Virginia; 
Hiram College, Hiram, Ohio; Northwestern 
Christian University, Indianapolis, Indiana; 
Eureka College, Illinois; Kentucky Univer- 
sity, Lexington, Kentucky; Oskaloosa 
College, Iowa; and a number of seminaries 
and schools. They also support several 
monthly and quarterly religious periodicals 
and many papers, both in the United States 
and Great Britain and her dependencies. 



WILLIAM L.WILSON, the noted West 
Virginian, who was postmaster-gener- 
al under President Cleveland's second ad- 
ministration, won distinction as the father 
of the famous " Wilson bill," which became 
a law under the same administration. Mr. 
Wi'iijon was born May 3, 1843, in Jeffer- 



COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHT. 



181 



son county, West Virginia, and received 
a good education at the Charlestown 
Academy, where he prepared himself for 
college. He attended the Columbian Col- 
lege in the District of Columbia, from 
which he graduated in i860, and then 
attended the University of Virginia. Mr. 
Wilson served in the Confederate army dur- 
ing the war, after which he was a professor 
in Columbian College. Later he entered 
into the practice of law at Charlestown. 
He attended the Democratic convention 
held at Cincinnati in 18S0, as a delegate, 
and later was chosen as one of the electors 
for the state-at-large on the Hancock 
ticket. In the Democratic convention at 
Chicago in 1892, Mr. Wilson was its per- 
manent president. He was elected pres- 
ident of the West Virginia University in 
1882, entering upon the duties of his office 
on September 6, but having received the 
nomination for the forty-seventh congress 
on the Democratic ticket, he resigned the 
presidency of the university in June, 1883, 
to take his seat in congress. Mr. Wil- 
son was honored by the Columbian Uni- 
versity and the Hampden-Sidney College, 
both of which conferred upon him the de- 
gree of LL. D. In 1884 he was appointed 
regent of the Smithsonian Institution at 
Washington for two years, and at the end 
of his term was re-appointed. He was 
elected to the forty-seventh, forty-ninth, 
fiftieth, fifty-first, fifty-second and fifty- 
third congresses, but was defeated for re- 
election to the fifty-fourth congress. Upon 
the resignation of Mr. Bissell from the office 
of postmaster-general, Mr. Wilson was ap- 
pointed to fill the vacancy by President 
Cleveland. Hi.s many years of public serv- 
ice and the prominent part he took in the 
discussion of public questions gave him a 
national reputation. 



CALVIN S. BRICE, a successful and 
noted financier and politician, was 
born at Denmark, Ohio, September 17, 
1845, of an old Maryland family, who trace 
their lineage from the Bryces, or Bruces, of 
Airth, Scotland. The father of our subject 
was a prominent Presbyterian clergyman, 
who removed to Ohio in 18 12. Calvin S. 
Brice was educated in the common schools 
of his native town, and at the age of thir- 
teen entered the preparatory department of 
Miami University at Oxford, Ohio, and the 
following year entered the freshman class. 
On the breaking out of the Civil war, 
although but fifteen years old, he enlisted in 
a company of three-months men. He re- 
turned to complete his college course, but 
re-enlisted in Company A, Eighty-sixth 
Ohio Infantry, and served in the Virginia 
campaign. He then returned to college, 
from which he graduated in 1863. In 1864 
he organized Company E, One Hundred 
and Eightieth Ohio Infantry, and served 
until the close of hostilities, in the western 
armies. 

On his return home Mr. Brice entered 
the law department of the University of 
Michigan, and in 1866 was admitted to the 
bar in Cincinnati. In the winter of 1870- 
71 he went to Europe in the interests of the 
Lake Erie & Louisville Railroad and pro- 
cured a foreign loan. This road became 
the Lake Erie & Western, of which, in 
1887, Mr. Brice became president. This 
was the first railroad in which he had a 
personal interest. The conception, build- 
ing and sale of the New York, Chicago & 
St. Louis Railroad, known as the "Nickel 
Plate," was largely due to him. He was 
connected with many other railroads, among 
which may be mentioned the following: 
Chicago & Atlantic; Ohio Central; Rich- 
mond & Danville; Richmond & West Point 



1S2 



COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY. 



Terminal; East Tennessee, Virginia & 
Georgia; Memphis & Charleston; Mobile & 
Birmingham; Kentucky Central; Duluth, 
South Shore & Atlantic, and the Marquette, 
Houghton & Ontonagon. In 1890 he was 
elected United States senator from Ohio. 
Notwithstanding his extensive business inter- 
ests, Senator Brice gave a considerable 
time to political matters, becoming one of 
the leaders of the Democratic party and one 
of the most widely known men in the 
country. 

BENJAMIN HARRISON, twenty-third 
president of the United States, was 
born August 20, 1833, at North Bend, 
Hamilton county, Ohio, in the house of his 
grandfather. General William Henry Har- 
rison, afterwards president of the United 
States. His great-grandfather, Benjamin 
Harrison, was a member of the Continental 
congress, signed the Declaration of Inde- 
pendence, and was three times elected gov- 
ernor of Virginia. 

The subject of this sketch entered Farm- 
ers College at an early age, and two years 
later entered Miami University, at O.xford, 
Ohio. Upon graduation he entered the 
office of Stover & Gwyne, of Cincinnati, as a 
law student. He was admitted to the bar 
two years later, and having inherited about 
eight hundred dollars worth of property, he 
married the daughter of Doctor Scott, pres- 
ident of a female school at Oxford, Ohio, 
and selected Indianapolis, Indiana, to begin 
practice. In i860 he was nominated by 
ihe Republicans as candidate for state 
supreme court reporter, and did his-^first 
political speaking in that campaign. He 
was elected, and after two years in that 
position he organized the Seventieth Indi- 
ana Infantry, of which he was made colonel, 
and with his regiment joined General Sher- 



man's army. For bravery displayed at Re- 
saca and Peach Tree Creek he was made a 
brigadier-general. In the meantime the 
office of supreme court reporter had been 
declared vacant, and another party elected 
to fill it. In the fall of 1864, having been 
nominated for that office. General Harrison 
obtained a thirty-day leave of absence, went 
to Indiana, canvassed the state and was 
elected. As he was about to rejoin his 
command he was stricken down by an attack 
of fever. After his recovery he joined 
General Sherman's army and participated in 
the closing events of the war. 

In 1868 General Harrison declined to 
be a candidate for the office of supreme 
court reporter, and returned to the practice 
of the law. His brilliant campaign for the 
office of governor of Indiana in 1876, 
brought him into public notice, although he 
was defeated. He took a prominent part 
in the presidential canvass of 1880, and was 
chosen United States senator from Indiana, 
serving six years. He then returned to the 
practice of his profession. In 1888 he was 
selected by the Republican convention at 
Chicago as candidate for the presidency, and 
after a heated campaign was elected over 
Cleveland. He was inaugurated March 4, 
1889, and signed the McKinley bill October 
I, 1890, perhaps the most distinctive feature 
of his administration. In 1892 he was 
again the nominee of the Republican party 
for president, but was defeated by Grover 
Cleveland, the Democratic candidate, and 
again resumed the practice of law in Indian- 
apolis. 

JOHN CRAIG HAVEMEYER, the 
celebrated merchant and sugar refiner, 
was born in New York City in 1833. His 
father, William F. Havemeyer, and grand- 
father, William Havemeyer, were both sugar 



COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHT. 



183 



refiners. The latter named came from 
Buckeburg, Germany, in 1799, and settled 
in New York, establishing one of the first 
refineries in that city. William F. succeeded 
his father, and at an early age retired from 
business with a competency. He was three 
times mayor of his native city, New York. 
John C. Havemeyer was educated in 
private schools, and was prepared for college 
at Columbia College grammar school. 
Owing to failing eyesight he was unable to 
finish his college course, and began his 
business career in a wholesale grocery store, 
where he remained two years. In 1854, 
after a year's travel abroad, he assumed the 
responsibility of the office work in the sugar 
refinery of Havemeyer & Molter, but two 
years later etablished a refinery of his o«n 
in Brooklyn. Thi_ v.ft-rwards developed into 
the immense bus inf. •SO' Havemeyer & Elder 
The capital was furn.shed by his fathar, 
and, chafing under the anxiety caused by the 
use of borrowed money, he sold out his 
interest and returned to Havemeyer & 
Molter. This firm dissolving the next year, 
John C. declined an offer of partnership 
from the successors, not wishing to use 
borrowed money. For two years he remain- 
ed with the house, receiving a share of the 
profits as compensation. For some years 
thereafter he was engaged in the commission 
business, until failing health caused his 
retirement. In 1871, he again engaged in 
the sugar refining business at Greenport, 
Long Island, with his brother and another 
partner, under the firm name of Havemeyer 
Brothers & Co. Here he remained until 
1880, when his health again declined. 
During the greater part of his life Mr. 
Havemeyer was identified with many benev- 
olent societies, including the New York 
Port Society, Missionary Society of the 
Methodist Church, American Bible Society, 



New York Sabbath School Society and 
others. He was active in Young Men's 
Christian Association work in New York, 
and organized and was the first president of 
an affiliated society of thesa.me at Yonkers. 
He was director of several railroad corpo- 
rations and a trustee of the Continental Trust 
Company of New York. 



WALTER QUINTIN GRESHAM, an 
eminent American statesman and 
jurist, was born March 17, 1833, near Cory- 
don, Harrison county, Indiana. He ac- 
quired his education in the local schools of 
the county and at Bloomington Academy, 
although he did not graduate. After leav- 
ing college he read law with Judge Porter 
at Corydon, and just beiorc the wa.- >" be- 
gan to take an interest in politics. Mr. 
Gresham was elected to the legislatu'-' .rom 
Harrison county as a Republ can; previous 
to this the district had been represented by 
a Democrat. At the commencement of 
hostilities he was made lieutenant-colonel of 
the Thirty-eighth Indiana • Infantry, but 
served in that regiment only a short time, 
when he was appointed colonel of the Fifty- 
third Indiana, and served under General 
Grant at the siege of Vicksburg as brigadier- 
general. Later he was under Sherman in 
the famous "March to the Sea," and com- 
manded a division of Blair's corps at the 
siege of Atlanta where he was so badly 
wounded in the leg that he was compelled 
to return home. On his way home he was 
forced to stop at New Albany, where he re- 
mained a year before he was able to leave. 
Pie was brevetted major-general at the close 
of the war. While at New Albany, Mr. 
Gresham was appointed state agent, his 
duty being to pay the interest on the state 
debt in New York, and he ran twice for 
congress against ex-Speaker Kerr, but was 



184 



COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHT. 



defeated in both cases, although he greatly 
reduced the Democratic majority. He was 
held in high esteem by President Grant, 
who offered him the portfolio of the interior 
but Mr. Gresham declined, but accepted 
the appointment of United States judge for 
Indiana to succeed David McDonald. 
Judge Gresham served on the United States 
district court bench until 1883, when he 
was appointed postmaster-general by Presi- 
dent Arthur, but held that office only a few 
months when he was made secretary of the 
treasury. Near the end of President 
Arthur's term, Judge Gresham was ap- 
pointed judge of the United States circuit 
court of the district composed of Indiana, 
Illinois and contiguous states, which he held 
until 1893. Judge Gresham was one of the 
presidential possibilities in the National Re- 
publican convention in 1888, when General 
Harrison was nominated, and was also men- 
tioned for president "n 1892. Later the 
People's party maae f^ strenuous effort to 
induce him to become their candidate for 
president, he refusing the offer, howeve', 
and a few weeks before the election he an- 
nounced that he would support Mr. Cleve- 
land, the Democratic nominee for president. 
Upon the election of Mr. Cleveland in the 
fall of 1892, Judge Gresham was made the 
secretary of state, and filled that position 
until his death on May 28, 1895, at Wash- 
ington, District of Columbia. 



ELISHA B. ANDREWS, noted as an ed- 
ucator and college president, was born 
at Hinsdale, New Hampshire, January 10, 
1844, his father and mother being Erastus 
and Elmira (Bartlett) Andrews. In 1861, 
he entered the service of the general gov- 
ernment as private and non-commissioned 
officer in the First Connecticut Heavj' Ar- 
tillery, and in 1863 was promoted to the 



rank of second lieutenant. Returning home 
he was prepared for college at Powers In- 
stitute and at the Wesleyan Academy, and 
entered Brown University. From here he 
was graduated in 1870. For the succeeding 
two years he was principal of the Connecti- 
cut Literary Institute at Suffield, Connecticut. 
Completing a course at the Newton Theo- 
logical Institute, he was ordained pastor of 
the First Baptist church at Beverly, Massa- 
chusetts, July 2, 1874. The following 
year he became president of the Denison 
University, at Granville, Ohio. In 1879 
he accepted the professorship of homiletics, 
pastoral duties and church polity at Newton 
Theological Institute. In 1882 he was 
elected to the chair of history and political 
economy at Brown University. The Uni- 
versity of Nebraska honored him with an 
LL. D. in 1884, and the same year Colby 
University conferred the degree of D. D. 
In 1888 he became professor of political 
economy and public economy at Cornell 
University, but the next year returned to 
Brown University as its president, '^rom 
the time of his inauguration the college work 
broadened in many ways. Many timely 
and generous donations from friends and 
alumni of the college were influenced by 
him, and large additions made "to the same. 
Professor Andrews published, in 1887, 
"Institutes of General History," and in 
1888, " Institutes of Economics." 



JOHN WILLIAM DRAPER, the subject 
of the present biography, was, during his 
life, one of the most distinguished chemists 
and scientific writers in America. He was 
an Englishman by birth, born at Liverpool, 
Maj' 5, 181 1, and was reared in his native 
land, receiving an excellent education, 
graduating at the University of London. In 
1833 he came to the United States, and 



COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY. 



187 



settled first in Pennsylvania. He graduated 
in medicine at the University of Philadel- 
phia, in 1836, and for three years following 
was professor of chemistry and physiology 
at Hampden-Sidney College. He then be- 
came professor of chemistry in the New York 
University, with which institution he was 
prominently connected for many years. It 
is stated on excellent authority that Pro- 
fessor Draper, in 1839, took the first photo- 
graphic picture ever taken from life. He 
was a great student, and carried on many 
important and intricate experiments along 
scientific lines. He discovered many of the 
fundamental facts of spectrum analysis, 
which he published. He published a number 
of works of great merit, many of which are 
recognized as authority upon the subjects of 
which they treat. Among his work were: 
"Human Physiology, Statistical and Dyna- 
mical of the Conditions and Cause of Life 
in Man," "History of Intellectual Develop- 
ment of Europe," "History of the Ameri- 
can Civil War," besides a number of works 
on chemistry, optics and mathematics. Pro- 
fessor Draper continued to hold a high place 
among the scientific scholars of America 
until his death, which occurred in January, 
1882. 

GEORGE W. PECK, ex-governor of 
the state of Wisconsin and a famous 
journalist and humorist, was born in Jeffer- 
son county. New York, September 28, 1840. 
When he was about three years of age his 
parents removed to Wisconsin, settling near 
Whitewater, where young Peck received his 
education at the public schools. At fifteen 
he entered the office of the "Whitewater 
Register," where he learned the printer's 
art. He helped start the "Jefferson County 
Republican" later on, but sold out his 
interest therein and set type in the office of 



the "State Journal," at Madison. At the 
outbreak of the war he enlisted in the 
Fourth Wisconsin Cavalr}' as a private, and 
after serving four years returned a second 
lieutenant. He then started the " Ripon 
Representative," which he sold not long 
after, and removing to New York, was on 
the staff of Mark Pomeroy's "Democrat." 
Going to La Crosse, later, he conducted the 
La Crosse branch paper, a half interest in 
which he bought in 1874. He next started 
"Peck's Sun," which four years later he 
removed to Milwaukee. While in La 
Crosse he was chief of police one year, and 
also chief clerk of the Democratic assembly 
in 1874. It was in 1878 that Mr. Peck 
took his paper to Milwaukee, and achieved 
his first permanent success, the circulation 
increasing to 80,000. For ten years he was 
regarded as one of the most original, versa- 
tile and entertaining writers in the country, 
and he has delineated every phase of 
country newspaper life, army life, domestic 
experience, travel and city adventure. Up 
to 1890 Mr. Peck took but little part in 
politics, but in that year was elected mayor 
of Milwaukee on the Democratic ticket. 
The following August he was elected gov- 
ernor of Wisconsin by a large majority, 
the "Bennett School Bill" figuring to a 
large extent in his favor. 

Mr. Peck, besides many newspaper arti- 
cles in his peculiar vein and numerous lect- 
ures, bubbling over with fun, is known to 
fame by the following books: "Peck's Bad 
Boy and his Pa," and "The Grocery Man 
and Peck's Bad Boy." 



CHARLES O'CONOR, who was for 
many years the acknowledged leader 
of the legal profession of New York City, 
was also conceded to be one of the greatest 
lawyers America has produced. He was 



188 



COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY. 



born in New York City in 1804, his fatlier 
being an educated Irish gentleman. Charles 
received a common-school education, and 
early took up the study of law, being ad- 
mitted to practice in 1824. His close ap- 
plication and untiring energy and industry 
soon placed him in the front rank of the 
profession, and within a few years he was 
handling many of the most important cases. 
One of the first great cases he had and which 
gained him a wide reputation, was that of 
"Jack, the Fugitive Slave," in 1S35, in which 
his masterful argument before the supreme 
court attracted wide attention and com- 
ment. Charles O'Conor was a Democrat 
all his life. He did not aspire to office- 
holding, however, and never held any office 
except that of district attorney under Presi- 
dent Pierce's administration, which he only 
retained a short time. He took an active 
mterest, however, in public questions, and 
was a member of the state (New York) con- 
stitutional convention in 1864. In 1868 he 
was nominated for the presidency by the 
" Extreme Democrats." His death occurred 
in May, 1884. 

SIMON BOLIVAR BUCKNER, a noted 
American officer and major-general in 
the Confederate army, was born in Ken- 
tucky in 1823. He graduated from West 
Point Military Academy in 1844, served in 
the United States infantry and was later as- 
signed to commissary duty with the rank of 
captain. He served several years at fron- 
tier posts, and was assistant professor in the 
military academy in 1846. He was with 
General Scott in the Mexican war, and en- 
gaged in all the battles from Vera Cruz to 
the capture of the Mexican capital. He 
was wounded at Cherubusco and brevetted 
first lieutenant, and at Molino del Rey was 
brevetted captain. After the close of the 



Mexican war he returned to West Point as 
assistant instructor, and was then assigned 
to commissary duty at New York. He re- 
signed in 1855 and became superintendent 
of construction of the Chicago custom house. 
He was made adjutant-genenal, with the 
rank of colonel, of Illinois militia, and was 
colonel of Illinois volunteers raised for the 
Utah expedition, but was not mustered into 
service. In i860 he removed to Kentucky, 
where he settled on a farm near Louisville 
and became inspector-general in command 
of the Kentucky Home Guards. At the 
opening of the Civil war he joined the Con- 
federate army, and was given command at 
Bowling Green, Kentucky, which he was 
compelled to abandon after the capture of 
Fort Henry. He then retired to Fort Don- 
elson, and was there captured with sixteen 
thousand men, and an immense store of pro- 
visions, by General Grant, in February, 
1862. He was held as a prisoner of war 
at Fort Warren until August of that year. 
He commanded a division of Hardee's corps 
in Bragg's Army of the Tennessee, and was 
afterward assigned to the third division and 
participated in the battles of Chickamauga, 
and Murfreesboro. He was with Kirby 
Smith when that general surrendered his 
army to General Canby in May, 1865. He 
was an unsuccessful candidate for the vice- 
presidency on the Gold Democratic ticket 
with Senator John M. Palmer in 1896. 



SIMON KENTON, one of the famous pio- 
neers and scouts whose names fill the 
pages of the early history of our country, 
was born in Fauquier county, Virginia, 
April 3, 1755. In consequence of an affray, 
at the age of eighteen, young Kenton went 
to Kentucky, then the "Dark and Bloody 
Ground," and became associated with Dan- 
iel Boone and other pioneers of that region. 



COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHT. 



If 



For a short time he acted as a scout and 
spy for Lord Dunmore, the British governor 
of Virginia, but afterward taking the side 
of the strugghng colonists, participated in 
the war for independence west of the Alle- 
ghanies. In 1784 he returned to Virginia, 
but did not remain there long, going back 
with his family to Kentucky. From 
that time until 1793 he participated in all 
the combats and battles of that time, and 
until "Mad Anthony" Wayne swept the 
Valley of the Ohio, and settled the suprem- 
acy of the whites in that region. Kenton 
laid claim to large tracts of land in the new 
country he had helped to open up, but 
: throiis:h ignorance of law. and the growing 
value of the land, lust it all and was reduced 
10 poverty. During the war with England 
in i.Ni:!-i5, Kenton took part in the inva- 
sion (if Canada with the Kentucky troops 
and participated in the battle of the Thames. 
He finally bad land granted him by the 
legislature of Kentucky, and received a pen- 
sion from the United States government. 
He died in Logan county, Ohio, April 29, 
1836. 

ELIHU BENJAMIN WASHBURNE, an 
American statesman of eminence, was 
born in Livermore, Maine, September 23, 
1 8 16. He learned the trade of printer, but 
abandoned that calling at the age of eight- 
een and entered the Kent's Hill Academy at 
Reading, Maine, and then took up the study 
of law, reading in Hallowell, Boston, and at 
the Harvard Law School. He began prac- 
tice at Galena, Illinois, in 1840. He was 
elected to congress in 1852, and represented 
his district in that body continuously until 
March, 1869, and at the time of his retire- 
ment he had served a greater number of 
consecutive terms than any other member 
of the house. In 1873 President Grant ap- 



pointed him secretary of state, which posi- 
tion he resigned to accept that of minister 
to France. During the Franco-Prussian 
war, including the siege of Paris and the 
reign of the Commune, Mr. Washburne re- 
mained at his post, protecting the lives and 
property of his countrymen, as well as that 
of other foreign residents in Paris, while the 
ministers of all other powers abandoned 
their posts at a time when they were most 
needed. As far as possible he extended 
protection to unfortunate German residents, 
who were the particular objects of hatred of 
the populace, and his firmness and the suc- 
cess which attended his efforts won the ad- 
miration of all Europe. Mr. ^^'ashburne 
died at Chicago, Illinois, October 22, 1887. 



"\S riLLIAM CRAMP, one of the most 
V V extensive shipbuilders of this coun- 
try, was born in Kensington, then a suburb, 
now a part of Philadelphia, in 1806. He 
received a thorough English education, and 
when he left school was associated with 
Samuel Grice, one of the . most eminent 
naval architects of his day. In 1830, hav- 
ing mastered all the details of shipbuilding, 
Mr. Cramp engaged in business on his own 
account. By reason of ability and excel- 
lent work he prospered from the start, until 
now, in the hands of his sons, under the 
name of William Cramp & Sons' Ship and 
Engine Building Company, it has become the 
most complete shipbuilding plant and naval 
arsenal in the western hemisphere, and fully 
equal to any in the world. As Mr. Cramp's 
sons attained manhood they learned their 
father's profession, and were admitted to a 
partnership. In 1872 the firm was incor- 
porated under the title given above. Until 
i860 wood was used in building vessels, al- 
though pace was kept with all advances in 
the art of shipbuilding. .\t the opening of 



190 



COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHT. 



the war came an unexpected demand for 
war vessels, which they promptly met. The 
sea-going ironclad "New Ironsides" was 
built by them in 1862, followed by a num- 
ber of formidable ironclads and the cruiser 
"Chattanooga." They subsequently built 
several war vessels for the Russian and 
other governments which added to their 
reputation. When the American steamship 
line was established in 1870, the Cramps 
were commissioned to build for it four first- 
class iron steamships, the "Pennsylvania," 
"Ohio," "Indiana" and "Illinois," which 
they turned out in rapid order, some of the 
finest specimens of the naval architecture of 
their day. William Cramp remained at the 
head of the great company he had founded 
until his death, which occurred January 6, 
1879. 

Charles H. Cramp, the successor of his 
father as head of the William Cramp & 
Sons' Ship and Engine Building Company, 
was born in Philadelphia May 9, 1829, and 
received an excellent education in his native 
city, which he sedulously sought to sup- 
plement by close study until he became 
an authority on general subjects and the 
best naval architect on the western hemis- 
phere. Many of the best vessels of our 
new navy were built by this immense con- 
cern. 

WASHINGTON ALLSTON, probably 
the greatest American painter, was 
born in South Carolina in 1779. He was 
sent to school at the age of seven years at 
Newport, Rhode Island, where he met Ed- 
ward Malbone, two years his senior, and 
who later became a pamter of note. The 
friendship that sprang up between them un- 
doubtedly influenced young Allston in the 
choice of a profession. He graduated from 
Harvard in 1800, and went to England the 



following year, after pursuing his studies for 
a year under his friend Malbone at his home 
in South Carolina. He became a student 
at the Royal Academy where the great 
American, Benjamin West, presided, and 
who became his intimate friend. Allston 
later went to Paris, and then to Italy, where 
four years were spent, mostly at Rome. In 
1809 he returned to America, but soon after 
returned to London, having married in the 
meantime a sister of Dr. Channing. In 
a short time his first great work appeared. 
"The Dead Man Restored to Life by the 
Bones of Elisha," which took the British 
Association prize and firmly established his 
reputation. Other paintings followed in 
quick succession, the greatest among which 
were "Uriel in the Center of the Sun," 
"Saint Peter Liberated by the Angel," and 
"Jacob's Dream," supplemented by many 
smaller pieces. Hard work, and grief at the 
death of his wife began to tell upon his health, 
and he left London in 18 18 for America. 
The same year he was elected an associate 
of the Royal Academy. During the next 
few years he painted "Jeremiah," "Witch 
ofEndor," and "Beatrice." In 1830 Alls- 
ton married a daughter of Judge Dana, and 
went to Cambridge, which was his home 
until his death. Here he produced the 
"Vision of the Bloody Hand," "Rosalie," 
and many less noted pieces, and had given 
one week of labor to his unfinished master- 
piece, "Belshazzar's Feast," when death 
ended his career July 9, 1843. 



JOHN ROACH, ship builder and manu- 
facturer, whose career was a marvel of. 
industrial labor, and who impressed his in- 
dividuality and genius upon the times in 
which he lived more, perhaps, than any 
other manufacturer in America. He was 
born at Mitchelstown, County Cork, Ire- 



COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHT. 



191 



land, December 25, 181 5, the son of a 
wealthy merchant. He attended school 
until he was thirteen, when his father be- 
came financially embarrassed and failed 
and shortly after died; John determined to 
come to America and carve out a fortune 
for himself. He landed in New York at the 
age of sixteen, and soon obtained employ- 
ment at the Howell Iron Works in New Jer- 
sey, at twenty-five cents a day. He soon 
made himself a place in the world, and at 
the end of three years had saved some 
twelve hundred dollars, which he lost by 
the failure of his employer, in whose hands 
it was left. Returning to New York he 
began to learn how to make castings for 
marine engines and ship work. Having 
again accumulated one thousand dollars, in 
company with three fellow workmen, he 
purchased a small foundry in New York, 
but soon became sole proprietor. At the 
end of four years he had saved thirty thou- 
sand dollars, besides enlarging his works. 
In 1856 his works were destroyed by a 
boiler explosion, and being unable to collect 
the insurance, was left, after paying his 
debts, without a dollar. However, his 
credit and reputation for integrity was good, 
and he built the Etna Iron Works, giving it 
capacity to construct larger marine engines 
than any previously built in this country. 
Here he turned out immense engines for 
the steam ram Dunderberg, for the war ves- 
sels Winooski and Neshaning, and other 
large vessels. To accommodate his increas- 
ing business, Mr. Roach, in 1869, pur- 
chased the Morgan Iron Works, one of the 
largest in New York, and shortly after sev- 
eral others. In 1871 he bought the Ches- 
ter ship yards, which he added to largely, 
erecting a rolling mill and blast furnace, and 
providing every facility for building a ship 
out of the ore and timber. This immense 



plant covered a large area, was valued at 
several millions of dollars, and was known 
as the Delaware River Iron Shipbuilding 
and Engine Works, of which Mr. Roach 
was the principal owner. He built a large 
percentage of the iron vessels now flying 
the American flag, the bulk of his business 
being for private parties. In 1875 he built 
the sectional dry docks at Pensacola. He, 
about this time, drew the attention of the 
government to the use of compound marine 
engines, and thus was the means of im- 
proving the speed and economy of the ves- 
sels of our new navy. In 1883 Mr. Roach 
commenced work on the three cruisers for 
the government, the "Chicago," "Boston" 
and "Atlanta," and the dispatch boat 
" Dolphin." For some cause the secretary 
of the navy refused to receive the latter and 
decided that Mr. Roach's contract would 
not hold. This embarrassed Mr. Roach, 
as a large am.ount of his capital was in- 
volved in these contracts, and for the pro- 
tection of bondsmen and creditors, July 18, 
1885, he made an assignment, but the 
financial trouble broke down his strong con- 
stitution, and January 10, 1887, he died. 
His son, John B. Roach, succeeded to the 
shipbuilding interests, while Stephen W. 
Roach inherited the Morgan Iron Works at 
New York. 

JOHN SINGLETON COPLEY, one of 
the two great painters who laid the 
foundation of true American art, was born 
in Boston in 1737, one year earlier than his 
great contemporary, Benjamin West. His 
education was limited to the common schools 
of that time, and his training in art he ob- 
tained by his own observation and experi- 
ments solely. When he was about seven- 
teen years old he had mapped out his future, 
however, by choosing painting as his pro- 



192 



COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY. 



fession. If he ever studied under any 
teacher in his early efforts, we have no au- 
thentic account of it, and tradition credits 
the young artist's wonderful success en- 
tirely to his own talent and untiring effort. 
It is almost incredible that at the age of 
twenty-three years his income from his 
works aggregated fifteen hundred dollars 
per annum, a very great sum in those days. 
In 1774 he went to Europe in search of ma- 
terial for study, which was so rare in his 
native land. After some time spent in Italy 
he finally took up his permanent residence 
in England. In 1783 he was made a mem- 
ber of the Royal Academy, and later his 
son had the high honor of becoming lord 
chancellor of England and Lord Lyndhurst. 
Many specimens of Copley's work are to 
be found in the Memorial Hall at Harvard 
and in the Boston Museum, as well as a few 
of the works upon which he modeled his 
style. Copley was essentially a portrait 
painter, though his historical paintings at- 
tained great celebrity, his masterpiece 
being his " Death of Major Pierson," though 
that distinction has by some been given to 
his "Death of Chatham." It is said that 
he never saw a good picture until he was 
thirty-five years old, yet his portraits prior 
to that period are regarded as rare speci- 
mens. He died in 181 5. 



HENRY B. PLANT, one of the greatest 
railroad men of the country, became 
famous as president of the Plant system of 
railway and steamer lines, and also the 
Southern & Te.xas Express Co. He was 
born in October, 18 19, at Branford, 
■Connecticut, and entered the railroad serv- 
ice in 1844, serving as express messenger 
on the Hartford & New Haven Railroad until 
i8<3, during which time he had entire 
■charge of the exprpsf business of that road. 



He went south in 1853 and established ex- 
press lines on various southern railways, and 
in 1 86 1 organized the Southern Express 
Co., and became its president. In 1879 he 
purchased, with others, the Atlantic & Gulf 
Railroad of Georgia, and later reorganized 
the Savannah, Florida & Western Railroad, 
of which he became president. He pur- 
chased and rebuilt, in 1880, the Savannah 
& Charleston Railroad, now Charleston & 
Savannah. Not long after this he organ- 
ized the Plant Investment Co., to control 
these railroads and advance their interests 
generally, and later established a steamboat 
line on the St. John's river, in Florida. 
From 1853 until i860 he was general 
superintendent of the southern division of 
the Adams Express Co., and in 1867 be- 
came president of the Texas Express Co. 
The "Plant system" of railway, steamer 
and steamship lines is one of the greatest 
business corporations of the southern states. 



WADE HAMPTON, a noted Confeder- 
ate officer, was 'tjorn at Columbia, 
South Carolina, in 181 8. He graduated 
from the South Carolina College, took an 
active part in politics, and was twice elected 
to the legislature of his state. In 1861 he 
joined the Confederate army, and command- 
ed the " Hampton Legion " at the first bat- 
tle of Bull Run, in July, 1861. He did 
meritorious service, was wounded, and pro- 
moted to brigadier-general. He command- 
ed a brigade at Seven Pines, in 1862, and 
was again wounded. He was engaged in 
the battle of Antietam in September of the 
same year, and participated in the raid into 
Pennsylvania in October. In 1863 he was 
with Lee at Gettysburg, where he was 
wounded for the third time. He was pro- 
moted to the rank of lieutenant-general, and 
commanded a troop of cavalry in Lee's 



COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHT. 



193 



armj- during 1864, and was in numerous en- 
gagements. In 1865 he was in Soutii Car- 
olina, and commanded the cavalry rear 
guard of the Confederate army in its stub- 
born retreat before General Sherman on his 
advance toward Richmond. 

After the war Hampton took an active 
part in politics, and was a prominent figure 
at the Democratic national convention in 
1868, which nominated Seymour and Blair 
for president and vice-president. He was 
governor of South Carolina, and took his 
seat in the United States senate in 1879, 
where he became a conspicuous figure in 
national affairs. 



NIIvOLA TESLA, one of the most cele- 
brated electricians America has known, 
was born in 1S57, at Smiljau, Lika, Servia. 
He descended from an old and representative 
family of that country. His father was a 
a minister of the Greek church, of high rank, 
while his mother was a woman of remarka- 
ble skill in the construction of looms, churns 
and the machinery required in a rural home. 
Nikola received early education in the 
public schools of Gospich, when he was 
sent to the higher "Real Schule" at I'Carl- 
stadt, where, after a three years' course, 
he graduated in 1873. He devoted him- 
self to experiments in electricity and 
magnetism, to the chagrin of his father, 
who had destined him for the ministry, 
but giving way to the boy's evident genius 
he was allowed to continue his studies in 
the polytechnic school at Gratz. He in- 
herited a wonderful intuition which enabled 
him to see through the intricacies of ma- 
chinery, and despite his instructor's demon- 
stration that a dynamo could not be oper- 
ated without commutators or brushes, 
began experiments which finally resulted in 
his rotating field motors. After the study 



of languages at Prague and Buda-Pesth, he 
became associated with M. Puskas, who 
had introduced the telephone into Hungary. 
He invented several improvements, but 
being unable to reap the necessary benefit 
from them, he, in search of a wider field, 
went to Paris, where he found employment 
with one of the electric lighting companies 
as electrical engineer. Soon he set his face 
westward, and coming to the United States 
for a time found congenial employment wfth 
Thomas A. Edison. Finding it impossible, 
overshadowed as he was, to carry out his 
own ideas he left the Edison works to join 
a company formed to place his own inven- 
tions on the market. He perfected his 
rotary field principle, adapting it to circuits 
then in operation. It is said of him that 
some of his proved theories will change the 
entire electrical science. It would, in an 
article of this length, be impossible to ex- 
plain all that Tesla accomplished for the 
practical side of electrical engineering. 
His discoveries formed the basis of the at- 
tempt to utilize the water power of Niagara 
Falls. His work ranges far beyond the 
vast department of polyphase currents and 
high potential lighting and includes many 
inventions in arc lighting, transformers, 
pyro and thermo-magnetic motors, new 
forms of incandescent lamps, unipolar dyna- 
mos and many others. 



CHARLES B. LEWIS won fame as an 
American humorist under the name of 
" M. Quad." It is said he owes his 
celebrity originally to the fact that he was 
once mixed up in a boiler explosion on the 
Ohio river, and the impressions he received 
from the event he set up from his case when 
he was in the composing room of an ob- 
scure Michigan paper. His style possesses a 
peculiar quaintness, and there runs through 



194 



COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHT. 



it a vein of philosophy. Mr. Lewis was 
born in 1844, near a town called Liverpool, 
Ohio. He was, however, raised in Lansing, 
Michigan, where he spent a year in an agri- 
cultural college, going from there to the 
composing room of the "Lansing Demo- 
crat." At the outbreak of the war he en- 
listed in the service, remained during the 
entire war, and then returned to Lansing. 
The explosion of the boiler that "blew him 
into fame," took place two years later, while 
he was on his way south. When he re- 
covered physically, he brought suit for dam- 
ages against the steamboat company, which 
he gained, and was awarded a verdict of 
twelve thousand dollars for injuries re- 
ceived. It was while he was employed by 
the " Jacksonian " of Pontiac, Mich., that he 
set up his account of how he felt while being 
blown up. He says that he signed it "M 
Quad," because "a bourgeoise em quad is 
useless except in its own line — it won't 
justify with any other type." Soon after, 
because of the celebrity he attained by this 
screed, Mr. Lewis secured a place on the 
staff of the " Detroit Free Press," and made 
for that paper a wide reputation. His 
sketches of the "Lime Kiln Club" and 
" Brudder Gardner " are perhaps the best 
known of his humorous writings. 



HIRAM S. MAXIM, the famous inventor, 
was born in Sangersville, Maine, 
February 5, 1840, the son of Isaac W. 
and Harriet B. Maxim. The town of his 
birth was but a small place, in the 
woods, on the confines of civilization, 
and the family endured many hardships. 
They were without means and entirely 
dependent on themselves to make out of 
raw materials all they needed. The mother 
was an expert spinner, weaver, dyer and 
seamstress and the father a trapper, tanner, 



miller, blacksmith, carpenter, mason and 
farmer. Amid such surroundings young 
Maxim gave early promise of remarkable 
aptitude. With the universal Yankee jack- 
knife the* products of his skill excited the 
wonder and interest of the locality. His 
pn.rents did not encourage his latent genius 
but apprenticed him to a coach builder. 
Four years he labored at this uncongenial 
trade but at the end of that time he forsook 
it and entered a machine shop at Fitchburg, 
Massachusetts. Soon mastering the details 
of that business and that of mechanical 
drawing, he went to Boston as the foreman 
of the philosophical instrument manufactory. 
From thence he went to New York and with 
the Novelty Iron Works Shipbuilding Co. 
he gained experience in those trades. His 
inventions up to this time consisted of 
improvements in steam engines, and an 
automatic gas machine, which came into 
general use. In 1877 he turned his attention 
to electricity, and in 1878 produced an 
incandescent lamp, that would burn 1,000 
hours. He was the first to design a process 
for flashing electric carbons, and the first 
to "standardize" carbons for electric light- 
ing. In 1880 he visited Europe and exhibit- 
ing, at the Paris Exposition of 1881, a self- 
regulating machine, ^as decorated with the 
Legion of Honor. In 1883 he returned to 
London as the European representative of the 
United States Electric Light Co. An incident 
of his boyhood, in which the recoil of a rifle 
was noticed by him, and the apparent loss 
of power shown, in 188 1-2 prompted the 
invention of a gun which utilizes the recoil to 
automatically load and fire seven hundred 
and seventy shots per minute. The Maxim- 
Nordenfelt Gun Co., with a capital of nine 
million dollars, grew from this. In 1883 he 
patented his electric training gear for large 
guns. And later turned his attention to fly- 



COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHT. 



195 



ing machines, which he claimed were not an 
impossibility. He took out over one hundred 
patents for smokeless gunpowder, and for pe- 
troleum and other motors and autocycles. 



JOHN DAVISON ROCKEFELLER, 
one of Am.erica's very greatest financiers 
and philanthropists, was born in Richford, 
Tioga county, New York, July 8, 1839. He 
received a common-school education in his 
native place, and in 1853, when his parents 
removed to Cleveland, Ohio, he entered the 
high school of that city. After a two-years' 
course of diligent work, he entered the com- 
mission and forwarding house of Hewitt & 
Tuttle, of Cleveland, remaining with the 
firm some years, and then began business 
for himself, forming a partnership with 
Morris B. Clark. Mr. Rockefeller was then 
but nineteen years of age, and during the 
year i860, in connection with others, they 
started the oil refining business, under the 
firm name of Andrews, Clark & Co. Mr. 
Rockefeller and Mr. Andrews purchased the 
interest of their associates; and, after taking 
William Rockefeller into the firm, established 
offices in Cleveland under the name of 
William Rockefeller & Co. Shortly after 
this the house of Rockefeller & Co. was es- 
tablished in New York for the purpose of 
finding a market for their products, -and two 
years later all the refining companies were 
consolidated under the firm name of Rocke- 
feller, Andrews & Flagler. This firm was 
f.ucceeded in 1870 by the Standard Oil 
Company of Ohio, said to be the most 
gigantic business corporation of modern 
times. John D. Rockefeller's fortune has 
been variously estimated at from one hun- 
dred million to two hundred million dollars. 
Mr. Rockefeller's philanthropy mani- 
fested itself principally through the American 
Baptist Educational Society. He donated 



the building for the Spelman Institute at 
Atlanta, Georgia, a school for the instruction 
of negroes. His other gifts were to the 
University of Rochester, Cook Academy, 
Peddie Institute, and Vassar College, be- 
sides smaller gifts to many institutions 
throughout the country. His princely do- 
nations, however, were to the University of 
Chicago. His first gift to this institution 
was a conditional offer of six hundred thou- 
sand dollars in 1889, and when this amount 
was paid he added one million more. Dur- 
ing 1892 he made it two gifts of one million 
each, and all told, his donations to this one 
institution aggregated between seven and 
eight millions of dollars. 



JOHN M. PALMER.— For over a third 
of a century this gentleman occupied a 
prominent place in the political world, both 
in the state of Illinois and on the broader 
platform of national issues. 

Mr. Palmer was born at Eagle Creek, 
Scott county, Kentucky, September 13. 
18 17. The family subsequently removed 
to Christian county, in the same state, where 
he acquired a common-school education, and 
made his home until 1831. His father was 
opposed to slavery, and in the latter year 
removed to Illinois and settled near Alton. 
In 1834 John entered Alton College, or- 
ganized on the manual-labor plan, but his 
funds failing, abandoned it and entered a 
cooper shop. He subsequently was en- 
gaged in peddling, and teaching a district 
school near Canton. In 1838 he began the 
study of law, and the following year re- 
moved to Carlinville, where, in December of 
that year, he was admitted to the bar. He 
was shortly after defeated for county clerk. 
In 1843 he was elected probate judge. In 
the constitutional convention of 1847, Mr. 
Palmer was a delegate, and from 1849 to 



196 



COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHT. 



1851 he was county judge. In 1852 he be- 
came a member of the state senate, but not 
being with his party on the slavery question 
he resigned that office in 1854. In 1856 
Mr. Palmer was chairman of the first Re- 
publican state convention held in Illinois, 
and the same year was a delegate to the 
national convention. In i860 he was an 
elector on the Lincoln ticket, and on the 
breaking out of the war entered the service 
as colonel of the Fourteenth Illinois Infan- 
try, but was shortly after brevetted brigadier- 
general. In August, 1862, he organized 
the One Hundred and Twenty-second Illi- 
nois Infantry, but in September he was 
placed in command of the first division of 
the Army of the Mississippi, afterward was 
promoted to the rank of major-general. In 
1865 he was assigned to the military ad- 
ministration in Kentucky. In 1S67 General 
Palmer was elected governor of Illinois and 
s'='rved four years. In 1872 he went with 
the Liberal Republicans, who supported 
Horace Greeley, after which time he was 
identified with the Democratic party. In 
1890 he was elected United States senator 
from Illinois, and served as such for six 
j-ears. In 1896, on the adoption of the sil- 
ver plank in the platform of the Democratic 
party. General Palmer consented to lead, 
as presidential candidate, the National Dem- 
oc "-ats, or Gold Democracy. 



WILLIAM H. BEARD, the humorist 
among American painters, was born 
at Painesville, Ohio, in 1821. His father, 
James H. Beard, was also a painter of na- 
tional reputation. William H. Beard be- 
gan his career as a traveling portrait 
painter. He pursued his studies in New 
York, and later removed to Buffalo, where 
he achieved reputation. He then went to 



Italy and after a short stay returned to New 
York and opened a studio. One of his 
earliest paintings was a small picture called 
"Cat and Kittens," which was placed in 
the National Academy onexhibition. Among 
his best productions are "Raining Cats and 
Dogs," "The Dance of Silenus, " "Bears 
on a Bender," "Bulls and Bears," " Whoo!" 
" Grimalkin's Dream," " Little Red Riding 
Hood," "The Guardian of the Flag." His 
animal pictures convey the most ludicrous 
and satirical ideas, and the intelligent, 
human expression in their faces is most 
comical. Some artists and critics have re- 
fused to give Mr. Beard a place among the 
first circles in art, solely on account of the 
class of subjects he has chosen. 



WW. CORCORAN, the noted philan- 
throphist, was born at Georgetown, 
District of Columbia; December 27, 1798. 
At the age of twenty-five he entered the 
banking business in Washington, and in 
time became very wealthy. He was 
noted for his magnificent donations to char- 
ity. Oak Hill cemetery was donated to 
Georgetown in 1847, and ten years later the 
Corcoran Art Gallery, Temple of Art, was 
presented to the city of Washington. The 
uncompleted building was utilized by the 
government as quartermaster's headquar- 
ters during the war. The building was 
completed after the war at a cost of a mil- 
lion and a half dollars, all the gift of Mr. 
Corcoran. The Louise Home for Women 
is another noble charity to his credit. Its 
object is the care of women of gentle breed- 
ing who in declining years are without 
means of support. In addition to this he 
gave liberally to many worthy institutions 
of learning and charity. He died at Wash- 
ington February 24, 1888. 



COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY. 



197 



ALBERT BIERSTADT, the noted paint- 
er of American landscape, was born in 
Dusseldorf, Germany, in 1829, and was 
brought to America by his parents at the 
age of two years. He received his early 
education here, but returned to Dusseldorf 
to study painting, and also went to Rome. 
On his return to America he accompanied 
Lander's expedition across the continent, in 
1S58, and soon after produced his most 
popular work, "The Rocky Mountains — 
Lander's Peak. " Its boldness and grandeur 
were so unusual that it made him famous. 
The picture sold for twenty-five thousand 
dollars. In 1867 Mr. Bierstadt went to 
Europe, with a government commission, 
and gathered materials for his great historic- 
al work, "Discovery of the North River 
by Hendrik Hudson." Others of his great 
works were " Storm in the Rocky Mount- 
ains," "Valley of the Yosemite," "North 
Fork of the Platte," "Diamond Pool," 
"Mount Hood," "Mount Rosalie," and 
"The Sierra Nevada Mountains." His 
"Estes Park" sold for fifteen thousand 
dollars, and "Mount Rosalie" brought 
thirty-five thousand dollars. His smaller 
Rocky mountain scenes, however, are vast- 
ly superior to his larger works in execution 
and coloring. 

ADDISON CAMMACK, a famous mill- 
ionaire Wall street speculator, was 
born in Kentucky. When sixteen years old 
he ran away from home and went to New 
Orleans, where he went to work in a ship- 
ping house. He outlived and outworked 
all the partners, and became the head of the 
firm before the opening of the war. At 
that time he fitted out small vessels and en- 
gaged in running the blockade of southern 
ports and carrying ammunition, merchan- 
dise, etc., to the southern people. This 



made him a fortune. At the close of the 
war he quit business and went to New 
York. For two years he did not enter any 
active business, but seemed to be simply an 
on-looker in the great speculative center of 
America. He was observing keenly the 
methods and financial machinery, however, 
and when, in 1867, he formed a partnership 
with the popular Charles J. Osborne, the 
firm began to prosper. He never had an 
office on the street, but wandered into the 
various brokers' offices and placed his orders 
as he saw fit. In 1873 he dissolved his- 
partnership with Osborne and operated 
alone. He joined a band of speculative 
conspirators known as the "Twenty-third 
party," and was the ruling spirit in that or- 
ganization for the control of the stock mar- 
ket. He was always on the ' ' bear " side and 
the only serious obstacle he ever encoun- 
tered was the persistent boom in industrial 
stocks, particularly sugar, engineered by 
James R. Keane. Mr. Cammack fought 
Keane for two years, and during the time is 
said to have lost no less than two million 
dollars before he abandoned the fight. 



WALT. WHITMAN.— Foremost among 
the lesser poets of the latter part of the 
nineteenth century, the gentleman whose 
name adorns the head of this article takes 
a conspicuous place. 

Whitman was born at West Hills, Long 
Island, New York, May 13, 1809. In the 
schools of Brooklyn he laid the foundation 
of his education, and early in life learned the 
printer's trade. For a time he taught coun- 
try schools in his native state. In 1846-7 
he was editor of the " Brooklyn Eagle, " 
but in 1848-9 was on the editorial staff of 
the "Crescent," of New Orleans. He 
made an extended tour throughout the 
United States and Canada, and returned to 



/98 



COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY. 



Brooklyn, where, in 1850, he published the 
"Freeman. " For some years succeeding 
^Jhis he was engaged as carpenter and builder. 
During the Civil war. Whitman acted as 
a volunteer nurse in the hospitals at 
Washington and vicinity and from the close 
of hostilities until 1873 he was employed 
in various clerkships in the government 
offices in the nation's capital. In the latter 
year he was stricken with paralysis as a 
result of his labors in the hospital, it is 
said, and being partially disabled lived for 
many years at Camden, New Jersey. 

The first edition of the work which was 
to bring him fame, "Leaves of Grass," was 
published in 1855 and was bat a small 
volume of about ninety-four pages. Seven 
or eight editions of "Leaves of Grass" have 
been issued, each enlarged and enriched with 
new poems. "Drum Taps," at first a 
separate publication, has been incorporated 
with the others. This volume and one 
prose writing entitled "Specimen Days and 
Collect," constituted his whole work. 

Wait. Whitman died at Camden, New 
Jersey, March 26, 1892. 



HENRY DUPONT, who became cele- 
brated as America's greatest manufact- 
urer of gunpowder, was a native of Dela- 
ware, born August 8, 18 12. He received 
his education in its higher branches at the 
United States Military Academy at West 
Point, from which he graduated and entered 
the army as sei ond lieutenant of artillery in 
1833. In 1834 he resigned and became 
proprietor of the extensive gunpowder 
manufacturing plant that bears his name, 
near Wilmington, Delaware. His large 
business interests interfered with his tak- 
ing any active participation in political 
life, although for many years he served 
as adjutant-general of his native state, and 



during the war as major-general command- 
ing the Home Guards. He died August 8, 
1889. His son, Henry A. Dupont, also was 
a native of Delaware, and was born July 30, 
1838. After graduating from West Point 
in 1 86 1, he entered the army as second 
lieutenant of engineers. Shortly after he 
was transferred to the Fifth Artillery as first 
lieutenant. He was promoted to the rank 
of captain in 1864, serving in camp and 
garrison most of the time. He was in com- 
mand of a battery in the campaign of 
1863-4. As chief of artillery of the army of 
West Virginia, he figured until the close of 
the war, being in the battles of Opequan, 
Fisher's Hill and Cedar Creek, besides- 
many minor engagements. He afterward 
acted as instructor in the artillery school at 
Fortress Monroe, and on special duty at 
West Point. He resigned from the army 
March i, 1875. 



WILLIAM DEERING, one of the fa- 
mous manufacturers of America, and 
also a philanthropist and patron of educa- 
tion, was born in Maine in 1826. His an- 
cestors were English, having settled in New 
England in 1634. Early in life it was Will- 
iam's intention to become a physician, and 
after completing his common-school educa- 
tion, when about eighteen years of age, he 
began an apprenticeship with a physician. 
A short time later, however, at the request 
of his father, he took charge of his father's 
business interests, which included a woolen 
mill, retail store and grist mill, after which 
he became agent for a dry goods commission 
house in Portland, where he was married. 
Later he became partner in the firm, and 
removed to New York. The business pros- 
pered, and after a number of years, on ac- 
count of failing health, Mr. Deering sold his 
interest to his partner, a Mr. Milner. The 



COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHT. 



199 



business has since made Mr. Milner a mill- 
ionaire many times over. A few years 
later Mr. Deering located in Chicago. His 
beginning in the manufacture of reapers, 
which has since made his name famous, 
was somewhat of an accident. He had 
loaned money to a man in that business, 
and in 1878 was compelled to buy out the 
business to protect his interests. The busi- 
ness developed rapidly and grew to immense 
proportions. The factories now cover sixty- 
two acres of ground and employ many thou- 
sands of men. 



JOHN McAllister schofield, an 

vJ American general, was born in Chautau- 
qua county. New York, September 29, 183 i. 
He graduated at West Point in 1853, and 
was for live years assistant professor of nat- 
ural philosophy in that institution. In 1861 
he entered the volunteer service as major of 
the First Missouri Volunteers, and was ap- 
pointed chief of staff by General Lyon, under 
whom he fought at the battle of Wilson's 
Creek. In November, 1861, he was ap- 
pointed brigadier-general of volunteers, and 
was placed in command of the Missouri 
militia until November, 1862, and of the 
army of the frontier from that time until 
1863. In 1862 he was made major-general 
of volunteers, and was placed in command of 
the Department of the Missouri, and in 1864 
of the Department of the Ohio. During the 
campaign through Georgia General Scho- 
field was in command of the Twenty-third 
Army Corps, and was engaged in most of the 
fighting of that famous campaign. Novem- 
ber 30, 1864, he defeated Hood's army at 
Franklin, Tennessee, and then joined Gen- 
eral Thomas at Nashville. He took part in 
the battle of Nashville, where Hood's army 
was destroyed. In January, 1865, he led 
his corps into North Carolina, captured 



Wilmington, fought the battle of Kingston, 
and joined General Sherman at Goldsboro 
March 22, 1865. He executed the details 
of the capitulation of General Johnston to 
Sherman, which practically closed the war. 
In June, 1868, General Schofield suc- 
ceeded Edwin M.- Stanton as secretary of 
war, but was the next year appointed major- 
general of the United States army, and order- 
ed to the Department of the Missouri. From 
1870 to 1876 he was in command of the De- 
partment of the Pacific; from 1876 to 1881 
superintendent of the West Point Military 
Academy; in 1883 he was in charge of the 
Department of the Missouri, and in 1886 of 
the division of the Atlantic. In 1888 he 
became general-in-chief of the United States 
army, and in February, 1895, was appoint- 
ed lieutenant-general by President Cleve- 
land, that rank having been revived by con- 
gress. In September, 1895, he was retired 
from active service. 



LEWIS WALLACE, an American gen- 
eral and famous author, was born in 
Brookville, Indiana, April 10, 1827. He 
served in the Mexican war as first lieutenant 
of a company of Indiana Volunteers. After 
his return from Mexico he was admitted to 
the bar, and practiced law in Covington and 
Crawfordsville, Indiana, until 1861. At the 
opening of the war he was appointed ad- 
jutant-general of Indiana, and soon after be- 
came colonel of the Eleventh Indiana Vol- 
unteers. He defeated a force of Confeder- 
ates at Romney, West Virginia, and was 
made brigadier-general in September, 1861. 
At the capture of Fort Donelson in 1862 he 
commanded a division, and was engaged in 
the second day's fight at Shiloh. In 1863 
his defenses about Cincinnati saved that city 
from capture by Kirby Smith. At Monoc- 
acy in July, 1864, he was defeated, but 



200 



COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY. 



his resistance delayed the advance of Gen- 
eral Early and thus saved Washington from 
capture. 

General Wallace was a member of the 
court that tried the assassins of President 
Lincoln, and also of that before whom Cap- 
tain Henry Wirtz, who had charge of the 
Andersonville prison, was tried. In 1881 
General Wallace was sent as minister to 
Turkey. When not in official service he 
devoted much of his time to literature. 
Among his better known works are his 
"Fair God," "Ben Hur," "Prince of 
India," and a " Life of Benjamin Harrison." 



THOMAS FRANCIS BAYARD, an Ameri- 
can statesman and diplomat, was born 
at Wilmington, Delaware, October 29, 1828. 
He obtained his education at an Episcopal 
academy at Flushing, Long Island, and 
after a short service in a mercantile house in 
New York, he returned to Wilmington and 
entered his father's law office to prepare 
himself for the practice of that profession. 
He was admitted to the bar in 185 1. He 
was appointed to the office of United States 
district attorney for the state of Delaware, 
serving one year. In 1869 he was elected to 
the United States senate, and continuously 
represented his state in that body until 1885, 
and in 1881, when Chester A. Arthur entered 
the presidential chair, Mr. Bayard was 
chosen president pro tempore of the senate. 
He had also served on the famous electoral 
commission that decided the Hayes-Tilden 
contest in 1876-7. In 1885 President Cleve- 
land appointed Mr. Bayard secretary of 
state. At the beginning of Cleveland's sec- 
ond term, in 1893, Mr. Bayard was selected 
for the post of ambassador at the court of 
St. James, London, and was the first to hold 
that rank in American diplomacy, serving 
until the beginning of the McKinley admin- 



istration. The questions for adjustment at 
that time between the two governments 
were the Behring Sea controversy and the 
Venezuelan boundary question. He was 
very popular in England because of his 
tariff views, and because of his criticism of 
the protective policy of the United States 
in his public speeches delivered in London, 
Edinburgh and other places, he received, in 
March, 1896, a vote of censure in the lower 
house of congress. 



JOHN WORK GARRETT, for so many 
years at the head of the great Baltimore 
& Ohio railroad system, was born in Balti- 
more, Maryland, July 31, 1820. His father, 
Robert Garrett, an enterprising merchant, 
had amassed a large fortune from a small 
beginning. The son entered Lafayette Col- 
lege in 1834, but left the following year and 
entered his father's counting room, and in 
1839 became a partner. John W. Gar- 
rett took a great interest in the develop- 
ment of the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad. He 
was elected one of the directors in 1857, 
and was its president from 1858 until his 
death.. When he took charge of the road 
it was in an embarrassed condition, but 
within a year, for the first time in its exist- 
ence, it paid a dividend, the increase in its 
net gains being $725,385. After the war, 
during which the road suffered much damage 
from the Confederates, numerous branches 
and connecting roads were built or acquired, 
until it reached colossal proportions. Mr. 
Garrett was also active in securing a regular 
line of steamers between Baltimore and 
Bremen, and between the same port and 
Liverpool. He was one of the most active 
trustees of Johns Hopkins University, and a 
liberal contributor to the Young Men's 
Christian Association of Baltimore. He 
died September 26, 1884. 



COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAFHT. 



201 



Robert Garrett, the son of John W. 
Garrett, was born in Baltimore April 9, 
1847, and graduated from Princeton in 1867. 
He received a business education in the 
banking house of his father, and in 1871 
became president of the Valley Railroad of 
Virginia. He was made third vice-presi- 
dent of the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad in 
1879, and first vice-president in 1881. He 
succeeded his father as president in 1884. 
Robert Garrett died July 29, 1896. 



CARL SCHURZ, a noted German-Ameri- 
can statesman, was born in Liblar, Prus- 
sia, March 2, 1829. He studied at the Uni- 
versity of Bonn, and in 1849 was engaged in 
an attempt to excite an insurrection at that 
place. After the surrender of Rastadt by 
the revolutionists, in the defense of which 
Schurz took part, he decided to emigrate to 
America. He resided in Philadelphia three 
years, and then settled in Watertown, Wis- 
consin, and in 1859 removed to Milwaukee, 
where he practiced law. On the organiza- 
tion of the Republican party he became a 
leader of the German element and entered 
the campaign for Lincoln in i860. He was 
appointed minister to Spain in 1861, but re- 
signed in December of that year to enter 
the army. He was appointed brigadier- 
general in 1862, and participated in the 
second battle of Bull Run, and also at 
Chancellorsville. At Gettysburg he had 
temporary command of the Eleventh Army 
Corps, and also took part in the battle of 
Chattanooga. 

After the war he located at St. Louis, 
and in 1869 was elected United States sena- 
tor from Missouri. He supported Horace 
Greeley for the presidency in 1872, and in 
the campaign of 1876, having removed to 
New York, he supported Hayes and the Re- 
publican ticket, and was appointed secre- 



tary of the interior in 1877. In 1881 he 
became editor of the "New York Evening 
Post," and in 1884 was prominent in his 
opposition to James G. Blaine, and became 
a leader of the "Mugwumps," thus assist- 
ing in the election of Cleveland. In the 
presidential campaign of 1896 his forcible 
speeches in the interest of sound money 
wielded an immense influence. Mr. Schurz 
wrote a "Life of Henry Clay," said to be 
the best biography ever published of that 
eminent statesman. 



GEORGE F. EDMUNDS, an American 
statesman of national reputation, was 
born in Richmond, Vermont, February i, 
1828. His education was obtained in the 
public schools and from the instructions of 
a private tutor. He was admitted to the 
bar, practiced law, and served in the state 
legislature from 1854 to 1859, during three 
years of that time being speaker of the lower 
house. He was elected to the state senate 
and acted as president pro tempore of that 
body in 1861 and 1862. He became promi- 
nent for his activity in the impeachment 
proceedings against President Johnson, and 
was appointed to the United States senate 
to fill out the une.xpired term of Solomon 
Foot, entering that body in 1866. He was 
re-elected to the senate four times, and 
served on the electoral commission in 1877. 
He became president pro tempore of the 
senate after the death of President Garfield, 
and was the author of the bill which put an 
end to the practice of polygamy in the ter- 
ritory of Utah. In November, 1891, owing 
to impaired health, he retired from the sen- 
ate and again resumed the practice of law. 



LUCIUS Q. C. LAMAR, a prominent 
political leader, statesman and jurist, 
was born in Putnam county, Georgia, Sep- 



"202 



COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY 



temberij, 1825. He graduated from Emory 
College in 1845, studied law at Macon under 
Hon. A. H. Chappell, and was admitted to 
the bar in 1847. He moved to Oxford, 
Mississippi, in 1849, and was elected to a 
professorship in the State University. He 
resigned the next year and returned to Cov- 
ington, Georgia, and resumed the practice 
of law. In 1853 he was elected to the 
Georgia Legislature, and in 1854 he removed 
to his plantation in Lafayette county, Mis- 
sissippi, and was elected to represent his 
district in the thirty-fifth and thirty-sixth 
congresses. He resigned in i860, and was 
sent as a delegate to the secession conven- 
tion of the state. He entered the Confed- 
erate service in 1861 as lieutenant-colonel 
of the Nineteenth Regiment, and was soon 
after made colonel. In 1863 President 
Devis appointed him to an important diplo- 
matic mission to Russia. In 1866 he was 
elected professor" of political economy and 
social science in the State University, and 
was soon afterward transferred to the pro- 
fessorship of the law department. He rep- 
resented his district in the forty-third and 
forty-fourth congresses, and was elected 
United States senator from Mississippi in 
1877, and re-elected in 1882. In 1885, be- 
fore the expiration of his term, he was 
appointed by President Cleveland as secre- 
tary of the interior, which position he held 
until his appointment as associate justice of 
the United States supreme court, in 1888, 
in which capacity he served until his death, 
January 23, 1894. 



BENJAMIN PENHALLOW SHILLA- 
BER won fame in the world of 
humorists under the name of "Mrs. Parting- 
ton." He was born in 1841 at Portsmouth, 
New Hampshire, and started out in life as a 
printer. Mr. Shillaber went to Dover, 



where he secured employment in a printing 
office, and from there he went to Demerara, 
Guiana, where he was employed as a com- 
positor in 1835-37. In 1840 he became 
connected with the "Boston Post," and 
acquired quite a reputation as a humorist 
by his "Sayings of Mrs. Partington." He 
remained as editor of the paper until 1850, 
when he printed and edited a paper of his 
own called the "Pathfinder," which he con- 
tinued until 1852. Mr. Shillaber be- 
came editor and proprietor of the "Carpet 
Bag," which he conducted during 1850-52, 
and then returned to the "Boston Post," 
with which he was connected until 1856. 
During the same time he was one of the 
editors of the "Saturday Evening Gazette," 
and continued in this line after he severed 
his connection with the "Post," for ten 
years. After 1866 Mr. Shillaber wrote for 
various newspapers and periodicals, and 
during his life published the following 
books: "Rhymes with Reason and Without," 
"Poems, " "Life and Sayings of Mrs. Part- 
ington," "Knitting Work," and others. 
His death occurred at Chelsea, Massachu- 
setts, November 25, 1890. 



EASTMAN JOHNSON stands first among 
painters of American country life. He 
was born in Lovell, Maine, in 1824, and be- 
gan his work in drawing at the age of eight- 
een years. His first works were portraits, 
and, as he took up his residence in Wash- 
ington, the most famous men of the nation 
were his subjects. In 1846 he went to Bos- 
ton, and there made crayon portraits of 
Longfellow, Emerson, Sumner, Hawthorne 
and other noted men. In 1849 he went to 
Europe. He studied at Dusseldorf, Ger- 
many; spent a year at the Royal Academy, 
and thence to The Hague, where he spent 
four years, producing there his first pictures 



COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY. 



203 



of consequence, "The Card-Players " and 
"The Savoyard." He then went to Paris, 
but was called home, after an absence from 
America of six years. He lived some time 
in Washington, and then spent two years 
among the Indians of Lake Superior. In 
1858 he produced his famous picture, "The 
Old Kentucky Home." He took up his 
permanent residence at New York at that 
time. His " Sunday Morning ip (Virginia " 
is a work of equal merit. He was espe- 
cially successful in coloring, a master of 
drawing, and the expression conveys with 
precision the thought of the artist. His 
portrayal of family life and child life is un- 
equalled. Among his other great works are 
"The Confab," "Crossing a Stream,' 
"Chimney Sweep," "Old Stage Coach," 
" The New Bonnet," " The Drummer Boy," 
"Childhood of Lincoln," and a great vari- 
ety of equally familiar subjects. 



PIERCE GUSTAVE TOUTANT BEAU- 
REGARD, one of the most distin- 
guished generals in the Confederate army, 
was born near New Orleans, Louisiana, 
May 28, 1 81 8. He graduated from West 
Point Military Academy in 1838, and was 
made second lieutenant of engineers. He 
was with General Scott in Mexico, and dis- 
tinguished himself at Vera Cruz, Cerro 
Gordo, and the battles near the City of 
Mexico, for which he was twice brevetted. 
After the Mexican war closed he was placed 
in charge of defenses about New Orleans, 
and in i860 was appointed superintendent 
of the United States Military Academy at 
West Point. He held this position but a 
few months, when he resigned February 20, 
1 86 1, and accepted a commission of briga- 
dier-general in the Confederate army. He 
directed the attack on Fort Sumter, the 
first engagement of the Civil war. He was 

12 



in command of the Confederates at the first 
battle of Bull Run, and for this victory was 
made general. In 1862 he was placed in 
command of the Army of the Mississippi, 
and planned the attack upon General Grant 
at Shiloh, and upon the death of General 
Johnston he took command of the army 
and was only defeated by the timely arrival 
of General Buell with reinforcements. He 
commanded at Charleston and successfully 
defended that city against the combined at- 
tack by land and sea in 1863. In 1864 he 
was in command in Virginia, defeating Gen- 
eral Butler, and resisting Grant's attack 
upon Petersburg until reinforced from Rich- 
mond. During the long siege which fol- 
lowed he was sent to check General Sher- 
man's march to the sea, and was with Gen- 
eral Joseph E. Johnston when that general 
surrendered in 1865. After the close of the 
war he was largely interested in railroad 
management. In 1866 he was offered chief 
command of the Army of Roumania, and in 
1869, that of the Army of Egypt. He de- 
clined these offers. His death occurred 
February 20, 1893. 



HENRY GEORGE, one of America's 
most celebrated political economists, 
was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 
September 2, 1839. He received a common- 
school education and entered the high 
school in 1853, and then went into a mer- 
cantile office. He made several voyages on 
the sea, and settled in California in 1858. 
He then worked at the printer's trade for a 
number of years, which he left to follow the 
editorial profession. He edited in succession 
several daily newspapers, and attracted at- 
tention by a number of strong essays and 
speeches on political and social questions. 
In 1 87 1 he edited a pamphlet, entitled " Oui 
Land and Policy," in which he outlined a 



204 



COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY. 



theory, which has since made him so widely 
known. This was developed in " Progress 
and Poverty," a book which soon attained a 
large circulation on both sides of the Atlan- 
tic, which has been extensively translated. 
In 1880 Mr. George located in New York, 
where he made his home, though he fre- 
quently addressed audiences in Great Britain, 
Ireland, Australia, and throughout the 
United States. In 1886 he was nominated 
by the labor organizations for mayor of New 
York, and made a campaign notable for its 
development of unexpectedpower. In 1887 he 
was candidate of the Union Labor party for 
secretary of state of New York. These cam- 
paigns served to formulate the idea of a single 
tax and popularize the Australian ballot sys- 
tem. Mr. George became a free trader in 
1888, and in 1892 supported the election of 
Grover Cleveland. His political and eco- 
nomic ideas, known as the "single tax," 
have a large and growing support, but are 
not confined to this country alone. He 
wrote numerous miscellaneous articles in 
support of his principles, and also published: 
"The Land Question," "Social Problems," 
"Protection or Free Trade," "The Condi- 
tion of Labor, an Open Letter to Pope Leo 
XIII.," and " Perple.xed Philosopher." 



T^HOMAS ALEXANDER SCOTT. —This 
1 name is indissolubly connected with 
the history and development of the railway 
systems of the United States. Mr. Scott 
was born December 28, 1823, at London, 
Franklin county, Pennsylvania. He was first 
regularly employed by Major James Patton, 
the collector of tolls on the state road be- 
tween Philadelphia and Columbia, Penn- 
sylvania. He entered into the employ of 
the Pennsylvania Railroad Company in 1850, 
and went through all the different branches 
of work until he had mastered all the details 



of the office work, and in 1858 he was ap- 
pointed general superintendent. Mr. Scott 
was the next year chosen vice-president of 
the road. This position at once brought 
him before the public, and the enterprise 
and ability displayed by him in its manage- 
ment marked him as a leader among the 
railroad men of the country. At the out- 
break of the rebellion in 1861, Mr. Scott 
was selected by Governor Ciirtin as a mem- 
ber of his staff, and placed in charge of the 
equipment and forwarding of the state troops 
to the seat of war. On April 27, 1861, the 
secretary of war desired to establish a' new 
line of road between the national capital 
and Philadelphia, for the more expeditious 
transportation of troops. He called upon 
Mr. Scott to direct this work, and the road 
by the way of Annapolis and Perryville was 
completed in a marvelously short space of 
time. On May 3, 1 861, he was commis- 
sioned colonel of volunteers, and on the 23d 
of the same month the government railroads 
and telegraph lines were placed in his charge. 
Mr. Scott was the first assistant secretary 
of war ever appointed, and he took charge 
of this new post August i, 1861. In Janu- 
ary, 1862, he was directed to organize 
transportation in the northwest, and in 
March he performed the same service on 
the western rivers. He resigned June i, 
1862, and resumed his direction of affairs on 
the Pennsylvania Railroad. Colonel Scott 
directed the policy that secured to his road 
the control of the western roads, and be- 
came the president of the new company to 
operate these lines in 1871. For one year, 
from March, 1871, he was president of the 
Union Pacific Railroad, and in 1874 he suc- 
ceeded to the presidency of the Pennsyl- 
vania Company. He projected the Te.xas 
Pacific Railroad and was for many years its 
president. Colonel Scott's health failed 



COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY. 



205 



him and he resigned the presidency of the 
road June I, 1880, and died at his home in 
D irby, Pennsylvania, May 2 i, 1881. 



ROBERT TOOMBS, an American states- 
man of note, was born in Wilkes coun- 
ty, Georgia, July 2, 18 10. He attended 
the University ( f Georgia, and graduated 
from Union College, Schenectady, New 
York, and then took a law course at the 
University of Virginia. In 1830, before he 
had attained his majority, he was admitted 
to the bar by special act of the legislature, 
and rose rapidly in his profession, attracting 
the attention of the leading statesmen and 
judges of that time. He raised a volunteer 
company for the Creek war, and served as 
captain to the close. He was electedto the 
state legislature in 1837, re-elected in 1842, 
and in 1844 was elected to congress. He 
had been brought up as a Jeffersonian 
Democrat, but voted for Harrison in 1840 
and for Clay in 1844. He made his first 
speech in congress on the Oregon question, 
and immediately took rank with the greatest 
debaters of that body. In 1853 he was 
elected to the United States senate, and 
again in 1859, but when his native state 
seceded he resigned his seat in the senate 
and was elected to the Confederate con- 
gress. It is stated on the best authority 
that had it not been for a misunderstanding 
which could not be explained till too late he 
would have been elected president of the 
Confederacy. He was appointed secretary 
of state by President Davis, but resigned 
after a few months and was commissioned 
brigadier-general in the Confederate army. 
He won distinction at the second battle of 
Bull Run and at Sharpsburg, but resigned 
his commission soon after and returned to 
Georgia. He organized the militia of 
Georgia to resist Sherman, and was made 



brigadier-general of the state troops. He 
left the country at the close of the war and 
did not return until 1867. He died Decem- 
ber 15, 1885. 

AUSTIN CORBIN, one of the greatest 
railway magnates of the United States, 
was born July 11, 1827, at Newport, New 
Hampshire. He studied law with Chief 
Justice Gushing and Governor Ralph Met- 
calf, and later took a course in the Harvard 
Law School, where he graduated in 1849. 
He was admitted to the bar, and practiced 
law, with Governor Metcalf as his partner, 
until October 12, 1851. Mr. Corbin then 
removed to Davenport, Iowa, where he re- 
mained until 1865. In 1854 he was a part- 
ner in the banking firm of Macklot & Cor- 
bin, and later he organized the First Na- 
tional bank of Davenport, Iowa, which 
commenced business June 29, 1863, and 
which was the first national bank open for 
business in the United States. Mr. Corbin 
sold out his business in the Davenport bank, 
and removed to New York in 1865 and com- 
menced business with partners under the 
style of Corbin Banking Company. Soon 
after his removal to New York he became 
interested in railroads, and became one of 
the leading railroad men of the country. 
The development of the west half of Coney 
Island as a summer resort first brought him 
into general prominence. He built a rail- 
road from New York to the island, and 
built great hotels on its ocean front. He 
next turned his attention to Long Island, 
and secured all the railroads and consoli- 
dated them under one management, became 
president of the system, and under his con- 
trol Long Island became the great ocean 
suburb of New York. His latest public 
achievement was the rehabilitation of the 
Reading Railroad, of Pennsylvania, and 



206 



COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY. 



during the same time he and his friends 
purchased the controlling interest of the 
New Jersey Central Railroad. He took it 
out of the hands of the receiver, and in 
three years had it on a dividend-paying 
basis. Mr. Corbin's death occurred June 
4, 1896. 

JAMES GORDON BENNETT, Sr. , 
was one of the greatest journalists of 
America in his day. He was born Septem- 
ber I, 1795, at New Mill, near Keith, Scot- 
land. At the age of fourteen he was sent 
to Aberdeen to study for the priesthood, 
but, convinced that he was mistaken in his 
vocation, he determined to emigrate. He 
landed at Halifa.\, Nova Scotia, in 1819, 
where he attempted to earn a living by 
teaching bookkeeping. Failing in this he 
went to Boston and found employment as a 
proof reader. Mr. Bennett went to New 
York about 1822 and wrote for the news- 
papers. Later on he became assistant 
editor in the office of the "Charleston 
Courier, "but returned to New York in 1824 
and endeavored to start a commercial 
school, but was unsuccessful in this, and 
again returned to newspaper work. He 
continued in newspaper work with varying 
success until, at his suggestion, the "En- 
quirer" was consolidated with another 
paper, and became the "Courier and En- 
quirer," with James Watson Webb as 
editor and Mr. Bennett for assistant. At 
this time this was the leading American 
newspaper. He, however, severed his con- 
nection with this newspaper and tried, 
without success, other ventures in the line 
of journalism until May 6, 1835, when he 
issued the first number of the "New York 
Herald." Mr. Bennett wrote the entire 
paper, and made up for lack of news by his 
own imagination. The paper became popu- 



lar, and in 1838 he engaged European jour- 
nalists as regular correspondents. In 1841 
the income derived from his paper was at 
least one hundred thousand dollars. Dur- 
ing the Civil war the " Herald " had on its 
staff sixty-three war correspondents and the 
circulation was doubled. Mr. Bennett was 
interested with John W. Mackay in that great 
enterprise which is now known as the Mac- 
kay-Bennett Cable. He had collected for use 
in his paper over fifty thousand biographies, 
sketches and all manner of information re- 
garding every well-known man, which are 
still kept in the archives of the "Herald" 
office. He died in the city of New York in 
1872, and left to his son, James Gordon, 
Jr., one of the greatest and most profitable 
journals in the United States, or even in the 
world. 

OLIVER WENDELL HOLMES, a 
noted American, won distinction in the 
field of literature, in which he attained a 
world-wide reputation. He was born at 
Cambridge, Massachusetts, August 29, 1809. 
He received a collegiate education and grad- 
uated from Harvard in 1829, at the age of 
twenty, and took up the study of law and 
later studied medicine. Dr. Holmes at- 
tended several years in the hospitals of 
Europe and received his degree in 1836. 
He became professor of anatomy and phys- 
iology in Dartmouth in 1838, and re- 
mained there until 1847, when he was 
called to the Massachusetts Medical School 
at Boston to occupy the same chair, which 
position he resigned in 18S2. The first 
collected edition of his poems appeared in 
1836, and his "Phi Beta Kappa Poems," 
"Poetry," in 1836; "Terpsichore," in 1843; 
"Urania," in 1846, and "Astraea," won for 
him many fresh laurels. His series of 
papers in the "Atlantic Monthly," were: 



COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHT. 



207 



"Autocrat of the Breakfast Table," "Pro- 
fessor at the Breakfast Table," "Poet at 
the Breakfast Table," and are a series of 
masterly wit, humor and pathos. Among 
his medical papers and addresses, are: "Cur- 
rents and Counter-currents in the Medical 
Science," and "Borderland in Some Prov- 
inces of Medical Science." Mr. Holmes 
edited quite a number of works, of which 
we quote the following: "Else Venner, " 
"Songs in Many Keys," "Soundings from 
the Atlantic," "Humorous Poems," "The 
Guardian Angel," "Mechanism in Thoughts 
and Morals," "Songs of Many Seasons," 
"John L. Motley" — a memoir, "The Iron 
Gate and Other Poems," ''Ralph Waldo 
Emerson," "A Moral Antipathy." Dr. 
Holmes visited England for the second time, 
and while there the degree of LL. D. 
was conferred upon him by the University 
of Edinburgh. His death occurred October 
7. 1894- 

RUFUS CHOATE, one of the most em- 
inent of America's great lawyers, was 
born October i, 1799, at Essex, Massachu- 
setts. He entered Dartmouth in 18 15, 
and after taking his degree he remained as 
a teacher in the college for one year. He 
took up the study of law in Cambridge, and 
subsequently studied under the distinguished 
lawyer, Mr. Wirt, who was then United 
States attorney-general at Washington. Mr. 
Choatebegan the practice of law in Danvers, 
Massachusetts, and from there he went to 
Salem, and afterwards to Boston, Massa- 
chusetts. While living at Salem he was 
elected to congress in 1832, and later, in 
1 84 1, he was chosen United States senator 
to succeed Daniel Webster, Mr. Webster 
having been appointed secretary of state 
under William Henry Harrison. 

After the death of Webster, Mr- Choate 



was the acknowledged leader of the Massa- 
chusetts bar, and was looked upon by the 
younger members of the profession with an 
affection that almost amounted to a rever- 
ence. Mr. Choate's powers as an orator 
were of the rarest order, and his genius 
made it possible for him to enchant and in- 
terest his listeners, even while discussing the 
most ordinary theme. He was not merely 
eloquent on the subjects that were calculated 
to touch the feelings and stir the passions 
of his audience in themselves, but could at 
all times command their attention. He re- 
tired from active life in 1858, and was on 
his way to Europe, his physician having 
ordered a sea voyage for his health, but had 
only reached Halifax, Nova Scotia, when 
he died, July 13, 1858. 



D WIGHT L. MOODY, one of the most 
noted and effective pulpit orators and 
evangelists America has produced, was born 
in Northfield, Franklin county, Massachu- 
setts, February 5, 1837. He received but 
a meager education and worked on a farm 
until seventeen years of age, when he be- 
came clerk in a boot and shoe store in 
Boston. Soon after this he joined the Con- 
gregational church and went to Chicago, 
where he zealously engaged in missionary 
work among the poor classes. He met 
with great success, and in less than a year 
he built up a Sunday-school which numbered 
over one thousand children. When the 
war broke out he became connected with 
what was known as the "Christian Com- 
mission," and later became city missionary 
of the Young Men's Christian Association at 
Chicago. A church was built there for his 
converts and he became its unordained pas- 
tor. In the Chicago fire of 1871 the church 
and Mr. Moody's house and furniture, which 
had been given him, were destroyed. The 



208 



COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY. 



church edifice was afterward replaced by a 
new church erected on the site of the old 
one. In 1873, accompanied by Ira D. 
Sankey, Mr. Moody went to Europe and 
excited great religious awakenings through- 
out England, Ireland and Scotland. In 
1875 they returned to America and held 
large meetings in various cities. They 
afterward made another visit to Great 
Britain for the same purpose, meeting with 
great success, returning to the United States 
in 1884. Mr. Moody afterward continued 
his evangelistic work, meeting everywhere 
with a warm reception and success. Mr. 
Moody produced a number of works, some 
of which had a wide circulation. 



JOHN PIERPONT MORGAN, a financier 
of world-wide reputation, and famous 
as the head of one of the largest banking 
houses in the world, was born April 17, 
1837, at Hartford, Connecticut. He re- 
ceived his early education in the English 
high school, in Boston, and later supple- 
mented this with a course in the University 
of Gottingen, Germany. He returned to 
the United States, in 1857, and entered the 
banking firm of Duncan, Sherman & Co., 
of New York, and, in i860, he became 
agent and attorney, in the United States, for 
George Peabody & Co., of London. He 
became the junior partner in the banking 
firm of Dabney, Morgan & Co., in 1864, 
and that of Drexel, Morgan & Co., in 1871. 
This house was among the chief negotiators 
of railroad bonds, and was active in the re- 
organization of the West Shore Railroad, 
and its absorption by the New York Central 
Railroad. It was conspicuous in the re- 
organization of the Philadelphia & Read- 
ing Railroad, in 1887, which a syndicate of 
capitalists, formed by Mr. Morgan, placed 
on a sound financial basis. After that time 



many other lines of railroad and gigantic 
financial enterprises were brought under Mr. 
Morgan's control, and in some respects it 
maybe said he became the foremost financier 
of the century. 



THOMAS BRACKETT REED, one of 
the most eminent of American states- 
men, was born October 18, 1839, at Port- 
land, Maine, where he received his early 
education in the common schools of the 
city, and prepared himself for college. Mr. 
Reed graduated from Bovvdoin College in 
i860, and won one of the highest honors of 
the college, the prize for excellence in Eng- 
lish composition. The following four years 
were spent by him in teaching and in the 
study of law. Before his admission to the 
bar, however, he was acting assistant pay- 
master in the United States navy, and 
served on the " tin-clad" Sybil, which pa- 
trolled the Tennessee, Cumberland and 
Mississippi rivers. After his discharge in 
1865, he returned to Portland, was admit- 
ted to the bar, and began the practice of his 
profession. He entered into political life, 
and in 1868 was elected to the legislature 
of Maine as a Republican, and in 1869 he 
was re-elected to the house, and in 1870 
was made state senator, from which he 
passed to attorney-general of the state. 
He retired from this office in 1873, and 
until 1877 he was solicitor for the city 
of Portland. In 1876 he was elected to 
the forty-fifth congress, which assembled 
in 1877. Mr. Reed sprung into prominence 
in that body by one of the first speeches 
which he delivered, and his long service in 
congress, coupled with his ability, gave him 
a national reputation. His influence each 
year became more strongly marked, and the 
leadership of his party was finally conceded 
to him, and in the forty-ninth and fiftieth 



COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAFHY. 



2^' 



congresses the complimentary nomination 
(or the speakership was tendered him by the 
Republicans. That party having obtained 
the ascendency in the fifty-first congress he 
was elected speaker on the first ballot, and 
he was again chosen speaker of the fifty- 
fourth and fifth-fifth congresses. As a 
writer, Mr. Reed contributed largely to the 
magazines and periodicals, and his book 
upon parliamentary rules is generally rec- 
ognized as authority on that subject. 



CLARA BARTON is a celebrated char- 
acter among what might be termed as 
the highest grade of philanthropists Amer- 
ica has produced. She was born on a farm 
at Oxford, Massachusetts, a daughter of 
Captain Stephen Barton, and was educated 
at Clinton, New York. She engaged in 
teaching early in life, and founded a free 
school at Bordentown, the first in New Jer- 
sey. She opened with six pupils, but the 
attendance had grown to six hundred up to 
1854, when she went to Washington. She 
was appointed clerk in the patent depart- 
ment, and remained there until the out- 
break of the Civil war, when she resigned 
her position and devoted herself to the al- 
leviation of the sufferings of the soldiers, 
serving, not in the hospitals, but on the bat- 
tle field. She was present at a number of 
battles, and after the war closed she origi- 
nated, and for some time carried on at her 
own expense, the search for missing soldiers. 
She then for several years devoted her time 
to lecturing on "Incidents of the War." 
About 1868 she went to Europe for her 
health, and settled in Switzerland, but on the 
outbreak of the Franco-German war she ac- 
cepted the invitation of the grand duchess 
of Baden to aid in the establishment of her 
hospitals, and Miss, Barton afterward fol- 
lowed the German army She was deco- 



rated with the golden cross by the granc 
duke of Baden, and with the iron cross by 
the emperor of Germany. She also served 
for many years as president of the famous 
Red Cross Society and attamed a world- 
wide reputation. 



CARDINAL JAMES GIBBONS, one of 
the most eminent Catholic clergymen 
in America, was born in Baltimore, Mary- 
land, July 23, 1834. He was given a 
thorough education, graduated at St. Charles 
College, Maryland, in 1857, and studied 
theology in St. Mary's Seminary, Baltimore, 
Maryland. In 1861 he became pastor of 
St. Bridget's church in Baltimore, and in 
1868 was consecrated vicar apostolic of 
North Carolina. In 1872 our subject be- 
came bishop of Richmond, V'irginia, and 
five years later was made archbishop of Bal- 
timore. On the 30th of June, i885, he 
was admitted to the full degree of cardinal 
and primate of the American Catholic 
church. He was a fluent writer, and his 
book, "Faith of Our Fathers,' had a wide 
circulation. 

CHAUNCEY MITCHELL DEPEW.— 
This name is, without doubt, one of 
the most widely known in the United States. 
Mr. Depew was born April 23, 1834, at 
Peekskill, New York, the home of the Depew 
family for two hundred years. He attended 
the common schools of his native place, 
where he prepared himself to enter college. 
He began his collegiate course at Yale at 
the age of eighteen and graduated in 1856. 
He early took an active interest in politics 
and joined the Republican party at its for- 
mation. He then took up the study of law 
and went into the office of the Hon. Will- 
iam Nelson, of Peekskill, for that purpose, 
and in 1858 he was admitted to the bar. 



210 



COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY. 



He was sent as a delegate by the new party 
to the Repubhcan state convention of that 
year. He began the practice of his profes- 
sion in 1859, but though he was a good 
worker, his attention was detracted by the 
'-ampaign of i860, in which he took an act- 
ive part. During this campaign he gained 
his first laurels as a public speaker. Mr. 
Depew was elected assemblyman in 1862 
from a Democratic district. In 1863 he se- 
cured the nomination for secretary of state. 
and gained that post by a majority of thirty 
thousand. In 1866 he left the field of pol- 
itics and entered into the active practice 
of his law business as attorney for the 
New York & Harlem Railroad Company, 
and in 1869 when this road was consoli- 
dated with the New York Central, and 
called the New York Central & Hudson 
River Railroad, he was appointed the attor- 
ney for the new road. His rise in the rail- 
road business was rapid, and ten years after 
his entrance into the Vanderbilt system as 
attorney for a single line, he was the gen- 
eral counsel for one of the largest railroad 
systems in the world. He was also a 
director in the Lake Shore & Michigan 
Southern, Michigan Central, Chicago & 
Northwestern, St. Paul & Omaha, West 
Shore, and Nickel Plate railroad companies. 
In 1874 Mr. Depew was made regent of 
the State University, and a member of the 
commission appointed to superintend the 
erection of the capitol at Albany. In 1882, 
on the resignation of W. H. Vanderbilt 
from the presidency of the New York Cen- 
tral and the accession to that office by 
James H. Rutter, Mr. Depew was made 
second vice-president, and held that posi- 
tion until the death of Mr. Rutter in 1885. 
In this year Mr. Depew became the execu 
tive head of this great corporation. Mr. 
Depew's greatest fame grew from his ability 



and eloquence as an orator and " after-din- 
ner speaker," and it has been said by emi- 
nent critics that this country has never pro- 
duced his equal in wit, fluency and eloquence. 



PHILIP KEARNEY.— Among the most 
dashing and brilliant commanders in 
the United States service, few have outshone 
the talented officer whose name heads this 
sketch. He was born in New York City, 
June 2, 181S, and was of Irish ancestry and 
imbued wit!i all the dash and bravery of the 
Celtic race. He graduated from Columbia 
College and studied law, but in 1837 ac- 
cepted a commission as lieutenant in the 
First United States Dragoons, of which hi; 
uncle, Stephen W. Kearney, was then colo- 
nel. He was sent by the government, 
soon after, to Europe to examine and report 
upon the tactics of the French cavalry. 
There he attended the Polytechnic School, 
at Samur, and subsequently served as a vol- 
unteer in Algiers, winning the cross of the 
Legion of Honor. He returned to the 
United States in 1840, and on the staff of 
General Scott, in the Mexican war, served 
with great gallantry. He was made a cap- 
tain of dragoons in 1846 and made major 
for services at Contreras and Cherubusco. 
In the final assault on the City of Mexico 
at the San Antonio Gate, Kearney lost an 
arm. He subsequently served in California 
and the Pacific coast. In i8si he resigned 
his commission and went to Europe, where 
he resumed his military studies. In the 
Italian war, in 1859, he served as a volun- 
teer on the staff of General Maurier, of the 
French army, and took part in the battles 
of Solferino and Magenta, and for bravery 
was, for the second time, decorated with 
the cross of the Legion of Honor. On the 
opening of the Civil war he hastened home, 
and; offering his services to the general gov- 



COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHT. 



211 



srnment, was made brigadier-general of 
volunteers and placed in command of a bri- 
gade of New Jersey troops. In the cam- 
paign under McClellan he commanded a di- 
vision, and at WilHamsburg and Fair Oaks 
his services were valuable and brilliant, as 
well as in subsequent engagements. At 
Harrison's Landing he was made major-gen- 
eral of volunteers. In the second battle of 
Bull Run he was conspicuous, and at the 
battle of Chantilly, September i, 1862, 
while leading in advance of his troops. Gen- 
eral Kearney was shot and killed. 



RUSSELL SAGE, one of the financial 
giants of the present century and for 
more than an average generation one of the 
most conspicuous and celebrated of Ameri- 
cans, was born in a frontier hamlet in cen- 
tral New York in August, 18 16. While Rus- 
sell was still a boy an elder brother, Henry 
Risley Sage, established a small grocery 
store at Troy, New York, and here Russell 
found his first employment, as errand boy. 
He served a five-years apprenticeship, and 
then joined another brother, Elisha M. Sage, 
in a new venture in the same line, which 
proved profitable, at least for Russell, who 
soon became its sole owner. Next he 
formed the partnership of Sage & Bates, 
and greatly extended his field of operations. 
At twenty-five he had, by his own exertions, 
amassed what was, in those days, a consid- 
erable fortune, being worth about seventy- 
five thousand dollars. He had acquired an 
iniluence in local politics, and lour years 
fater his party, the Whigs, elected him to 
the aldermanic board of Troy and to the 
treasuryship of Rensselaer county. In 1848 
he was a prominent member of the New 
York delegation to the Whig convention at 
Philadelphia, casting his first votes for Henry 
Clay, but joining the "stampede" which 



nominated Zachary Taylor. In 1850 the 
Whigs of Troy nominated him for congress, 
but he was not elected — a failure which he 
retrieved two years later, and in 1854 he 
was re-elected by a sweeping majority. At 
Washington he ranked high in influence and 
ability. Fame as a speaker and as a polit- 
ical leader was within his grasp, when he 
gave up public life, declined a renomination 
to congress, and went back to Troy to de- 
vote himself to his private business. Six 
years later, in 1863, he removed to New 
York and plunged into the arena of Wall 
street. A man of boundless energy and 
tireless pertinacity, with wonderful judg- 
ment of men and things, he soon took his 
place as a king in finance, and, it is said, 
during the latter part of his life he con- 
trolled more ready money than any other 
single individual on this continent. 



ROGER QUARLES MILLS, a noted 
United States senator and famous as the 
father of the "Mills tariff bill, "was born 
in Todd county, Kentucky, March 30, 1832. 
He received a liberal education in the com- 
mon schools, and removed to Palestine, 
Texas, in 1849. He took up the study of 
law, and supported himself by serving as an 
assistant in the post-office, and in the offices 
of the court clerks. In 1850 he was elected 
engrossing clerk of the Texas house of rep- 
resentatives, and in 1852 was admitted to 
the bar, while still a minor, by special act 
of the legislature. He then settled at Cor- 
sicana, Texas, and began the active prac- 
tice of his profession. He was elected to 
the state legislature in 1859, and in 1872 he 
was elected to congress from the state at 
large, as a Democrat. After his first elec- 
tion he was continuously returned to con- 
gress until he resigned to accept the posi- 
tion of United States senator, to which he 



212 



COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY. 



was elected March 23, 1892, to succeed 
Hon. Horace Chilton. He took his seat in 
the senate March 30. 1892; was afterward 
re-elected and ranked among the most use- 
ful and prominent members of that body. 
In 1876 he opposed the creation of the elec- 
toral commission, and in 1887 canvassed 
the state of Texas against the adoption of 
a prohibition amendment to its constitution, 
which was defeated. He introduced into 
the house of representatives the bill that was 
known as the "Mills Bill," reducing duties 
on imports, and extending the free list. 
The bill passed the house on July 21, 1888, 
and made the name of "Mills" famous 
throughout the entire country. 



HAZEN S. PINGREE, the celebrated 
Michigan political leader, was born in 
Maine in 1842. Up to fourteen years of 
age he worked hard on the stony ground of 
his father's small farm. Attending school 
in the winter, he gained a fair education, 
and when not laboring on the farm, he 
found employment in the cotton mills in the 
vicinity. He resolved to find more steady 
work, and accordingly went to Hopkinton, 
Massachusetts, where he entered a shoe fac- 
tory, but on the outbreak of the war he en- 
listed at once and was enrolled in the First 
Massachusetts Heavy Artillery. He partici- 
pated in the battle of Bull Run, which was 
his initial fight, and served creditably his 
early term of service, at the expiration of 
which he re-enlisted. He fought in the 
battles of Fredricksburg, Harris Farm, 
Spottsylvania Court House and Cold Har- 
bor In 1864 he was captured by Mosby, 
and spent five months at Andersonville, 
Georgia, as a prisoner, but escaped at the 
end of that time. He re-entered the service 
and participated in the battles of Fort 
Fisher, Boyden, and Sailor's Creek. He 



was honorably mustered out of service, and 
in 1866 went to Detroit, Michigan, where 
he made use of his former experience in a 
shoe factory, and found work. Later he 
formed a partnership with another workman 
and started a small factory, which has since 
become a large establishment. Mr. Pin- 
gree made his entrance into politics in 1889, 
in which year he was elected by a surpris- 
ingly large majority as a Republican to the 
mayoralty of Detroit, in which office he was 
the incumbent during four consecutive terms. 
In November, 1896, he was elected gov- 
ernor of the state of Michigan. While 
mayor of Detroit, Mr. Pingree originated 
and put into execution the idea of allowing 
the poor people of the city the use of va- 
cant city lands and lots for the purpose of 
raising potatoes. The idea was enthusiast- 
ically adopted by thousandsof poor families, 
attracted wide attention, and gave its author 
a national reputation as "Potato-patch Pin- 
gree." 



THOMAS ANDREW HENDRICKS, an 
eminent American statesman and a 
Democratic politician of national fame, was 
born in Muskingum county, Ohio, Septem- 
ber 7, 1 8 19. In 1822 he removed, with his 
father, to Shelby county, Indiana. He 
graduated from the South Hanover College 
in 1 84 1, and two years later was admitted 
to the bar. In 1851 he was chosen a mem- 
ber of the state constitutional convention, 
and took a leading part in the deliberations 
of that body. He was elected to congress 
in 1 85 1, and after serving two terms was 
appointed commissioner of the United States 
general land-ofiice. In 1863 he was elected 
to the United States senate, where his dis- 
tinguished services commanded the respect 
of all parties. He was elected governor of 
Indiana in 1872, serving four years, and in 



,876 was nominated by the Democrats as 
candidate for the vice-presidency with Til- 
den The returns in a number of states 
were contested, and resulted in the appoint- 
ment of the famous electoral commission, 
which decided in favor of the Republican 
candidates. In 1884 Mr. Hendricks was 
again nominated as candidate for the vice- 
presidency, by the Democratic party, on the 
ticket with Grover Cleveland, was elected, 
and served about six months. He died at 
Indianapolis. November 25, 1885. He was 
regarded as one of the brainiest men m the 
party, and his integrity was never ques- 
tioned, even by his political opponents. 

/BARRETT A. HOBART. one of the 
VJ many able men who have held the 
high office of vice-president of the United 
States, was born June 3, i844, m Mon- 
mouth county. New Jersey, and in i860 en- 
tered the sophomore class at Rutgers Col- 
lege from which he graduated in 1863 at 
the 'age of nineteen. He then taught 
school until he entered the law office of 
Socrates Tuttle. of Paterson, New Jersey, 
with whom he studied law. and in i86g 
was admitted to the bar. He immediately 
began the active practice of his profession 
in the office of the above named gentleman. 
He became interested in political life, and 
espoused tl.e cause of the Republican party, 
and in 1865 held his first office, serving as 
clerk for the grand jury. He was also city 
. -'ounsel of Paterson in 1871, and in May 
1872 was elected counsel for the board of 
chosen freeholders. He entered the state 
legislature in iSzsi and was re-elected to 
the assembly in 1874. Mr. Hobart was 
made speaker of the assembly in 1876, and 
and in 1879 was elected to the state senate. 
After serving three years in the same, he 
was elected president of that body m 18S1 



and the following year was re-elected o 
that office. He was a delegate-at^arge to 
the Republican national convention m ib70 
and 1880, and was elected a member of the 
national committee in 1884, which pos-tion 
he occupied continuously until 1896. He 
was then nominated for vice-president by 
the Republican national convention, anf 
was elected to that office in the fall of 1896 
on the ticket with William McKinley. 

WILLIAM MORRIS STEWART, noted 
as a political leader and senator, was 
I born in Lyons. Wayne county. New York, 
Au-ust 9, 1827. and removed with his par- 
entis while still a small child to Mesopota- 
mia township, Trumbull county. Ohio. He 
attended the Lyons Union school and Farm- 
ington Academy, where he obtained his ed- 
ucation. Later he taught mathematics in 
the former school, while yet a pupil and 
with the little money thus earned and the 
assistance of James C. Smith, one of the 
iudgesof the supreme court of New\ork 
he entered Yale College. He remained 
there until the winter of 1849-50, when, at- 
tracted by the gold discoveries in California 
he wended his way thither. He arrived at 
San Francisco in May, 1850, and later en- 
gaged in mining with pick and shovel in Ne- 
vada county. In this way he accumulated 
some money, and in the sprmg of 1852 he 
took up the study of law under John R. 
McConnell. The following December he 
was appointed district attorney, to which 
office he was chosen at the general election 
of the next year. In 1854 he was ap- 
pointed attorney-general of California, and 
in i860 he removed to Virginia City. Ne- 
vada, where he largely engaged m early 
mining litigation. Mr. Stewart was also in- 
terested in the development of the "Com- 
stock lode," and in 186. was chosen a 



214 



COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY. 



member of the territorial council. He was 
elected a member of the constitutional con- 
vention in 1863, and was elected United 
States senator in 1864, and re-elected in 
1869. At the expiration of his term in 
1875, he resumed the practice of law in 
Nevada, California, and the Pacific coast 
generally. He was thus engaged when he 
was elected again to the United States sen- 
ate as a Republican in 1887 to succeed the 
late James G. Fair, a Democrat, and took 
his seat March 4, 1887. On the expiration 
of his term he was again re-elected and be- 
came one of the leaders of his party in con- 
gress. His ability as an orator, and the 
prominent part he took in the discussion of 
public questions, gained him a national rep- 
utation. 

GEORGE GRAHAM VEST, for many 
years a prominent member of the 
United States senate, was born in Frank- 
fort, Kentucky, December 6, 1848. He 
graduated from Center College in 1868, and 
from the law department of the Transyl- 
vania University of Lexington, Kentucky, 
in 1853. In the same year he removed to 
Missouri and began the practice of his pro- 
fession, In i860 he was an elector on the 
Democratic ticket, and was a member of 
the lower house of the Missouri legislature 
in 1860-61. He was elected to the Con- 
federate congress, serving two years in the 
lower house and one in the senate. He 
then resumed the practice of law, and in 
1 879 was elected to the senate of the United 
States to succeed James Shields. He was 
re-elected in 1885, and again in 1891 and 
1897. His many years of service in the 
National congress, coupled with his ability 
as a speaker and the active part he took in 
the discussion of public questions, gave him 
a wide reputation. 



HANNIBAL HAMLIN, a noted American 
statesman, whose name is indissolubly 
connected with the history of this country, 
was born in Paris, Maine, August 27, 1809. 
He learned the printer's trade and followed 
that calling for several years. He then 
studied law, and was admitted to practice 
in 1833. He was elected to the legislature 
of the state of Maine, where he was several 
times chosen speaker of the lower house. 
He was elected to congress by the Demo- 
crats in 1843, and re-elected in 1845. In 
1848 he was chosen to the United States 
senate and served in that body until 1 861. 
He was elected governor of Maine in 1857 
on the Republican ticket, but resigned when 
re-elected to the United States senate 
the same year. He was elected vice-presi- 
dent of the United States on the ticket with 
Lincoln in i860, and inaugurated in March, 
1861. In 1865 he was appointed collector 
of the port of Boston. Beginning with 
1869 he served two six -year terms in the 
United States senate, and was then ap- 
pointed by President Garfield as minister to 
Spain in 1881. His death occurred July 4, 



TSHAM G. HARRIS, famous as Confed- 
1 erate war governor of Tennessee, and 
distinguished by his twenty years of service 
in the senate of the United States, was 
born in Franklin county, Tennessee, and 
educated at the Academy of Winchester. 
He then took up the study of law, was ad- 
mitted to the bar, and commenced practice 
at Paris, Tennessee, in 1841. He was 
elected to the state legislature in 1847, was 
a candidate for presidential elector on the 
Democratic ticket in 1848, and the next 
year was elected to congress from his dis- 
trict, and re-elected in 185 1. In 1853 he 
was renominated by the Democrats of his 



COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY. 



215 



district, but declined, and removed to Mem- 
phis, where he took up the practice of law. 
He was a presidential elector-at-large from 
Tennessee in 1856, and was elected gov- 
ernor of the state the next year, and again 
in 1859, and in 1861. He was driven from 
Nashville by the advance of the Union 
armies, and for the last three years of the 
war acted as aid upon the staff of the com- 
manding general of the Confederate army 
of Tennessee. After the war he went to 
Liverpool, England, where he became a 
merchant, but returned to Memphis in 1867, 
and resumed the practice of law. In 1877 
he was elected to the United States senate, 
to which position he was successively re- 
elected until his death in 1897. 



NELSON DINGLEY, Jr., for nearly a 
quarter of a century one of the leaders 
in congress and framer of the famous 
" Dingley tariff bill," was born in Durham, 
Maine, in 1832. His father as well as all 
his ancestors, were farmers, merchants and 
mechanics and of English descent. Young 
Dingley was given the advantages first of 
the common schools and in vacations helped 
his father in the store and on the farm. 
When twelve years of age be attended high 
school and at seventeen was teaching in a 
country school district and preparing him- 
self for college. The following year he en- 
tered Waterville Academy and in 185 1 en- 
tered Colby University. After a year and a 
half in this institution he entered Dart- 
mouth College and was graduated in 1855 
with high rank as a scholar, debater and 
writer. He next studied law and was ad- 
mitted to the bar in 1856. But instead of 
practicing his profession he purchased the 
" Lewistown (Me.) Journal," which be- 
came famous throughout the New England 
states as a leader in the advocacy of Repub- 



lican principles. About the same time Mr. 
Dingley began his political career, although 
ever after continuing at the head of the 
newspaper. He was soon elected to the 
state legislature and afterward to the lower 
house of congress, where he became a 
prominent national character. He also 
served two terms as governor of Maine. 



OLIVER PERRY MORTON, a distin- 
guished American statesman, was born 
in Wayne county, Indiana, August 4, 1823. 
His early education was by private teaching 
and a course at the Wayne County Seminary. 
At the age of twenty years he entered the 
Miami University at Oxford, Ohio, and at 
the end of two years quit the college, began 
the study of law in the office of John New- 
man, of Centerville, Indiana, and was ad- 
mitted to the bar in 1847. 

Mr. Morton was elected judge on the 
Democratic ticket, in 1852, but on thi 
passage of the " Kansas-Nebraska Bill" he 
severed his connection with that party, and 
soon became a prominent leader of the Re- 
publicans. He was elected governor of In- 
diana in 1 86 1, and as war governor became 
well known throughout the country. He 
received a paralytic stroke in 1865, which 
partially deprived him of the use of his 
limbs. He was chosen to the United States 
senate from Indiana, in 1867, and wielded 
great influence in that body until the time 
of his death, November i, 1877. 



JOHN B. GORDON, a brilliant Confeder- 
ateofficer and noted senatoroftheUnited 
States, was born in Upson county, Georgia, 
February 6, 1832. He graduated from the 
State University, studied law, and took up 
the practice of his profession. At the be- 
ginning of the war he entered the Confederate 
service as captain of infantry, and rapidly 



216 



COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY. 



rose to the rank of lieutenant-general, 
commanding' one wing of the Confederate 
army at the close of the war. In 1868 he 
was Democratic candidate for governor of 
Georgia, and it is said was elected by a large 
majority, but his opponent was given the 
ofSce. He was a delegate to the national 
Democratic conventions in 1868 and 1872, 
and a presidential elector both years. In 
1873 he was elected to the United States 
senate. In 1886 he was elected governor 
of Georgia, and re-elected in 1888. He 
was again elected to the United States 
senate in 1890, serving until 1897, when he 
was succeeded by A. S. Clay. He was 
regarded as a leader of the southern Democ- 
racy, and noted for his fiery eloquence. 



STEPHEN JOHNSON FIELD, an illus- 
trious associate justice of the supreme 
court of the United States, was born at 
Haddam, Connecticut, November 4, 1S16, 
being one of the noted sons of Rev. D. 
D. Field. He graduated from Williams 
College in 1837. took up the study of law 
with his brother, David Dudley Field, be- 
coming his partner upon admission to the 
bar. He went to California in 1849, and at 
once began to take an active mterest in the 
political affairs of that state. He was 
elected alcalde of Marysville, in 1850, and 
in the autumn of the same year was elected 
to the state legislature. In 1857 he was 
elected judge of the supreme court of the 
state, and two years afterwards became its 
chief justice. In 1863 he was appointed by 
President Lincoln as associate justice of the 
supreme court of the United States. During 
his incumbency, in 1873, he was appointed 
by the governor of California one of a com- 
mission to examine the codes of the state 
and for the preparation of amendments to 
the same for submission to the legislature. 



In 1877 he was one of the famous electoral 
commission of fifteen members, and voted 
as one of the seven favoring the election cf 
Tilden to the presidency. In 1880 a Jarge 
portion of the Democratic party favored his 
nomination as candidate for the presidenc}'. 
He retired in the fall of 1897, having 
served a greater number of 3'ears on the 
supreme bench than any of his associates or 
predecessors, Chief Justice Marshall coming 
next in length of service. 



JOHN T. MORGAN, whose services in 
the United States senate brought him 
into national prominence, was born in 
Athens, Tennessee, June 20, 1824. At the 
age of nine years he emigrated to Alabama, 
where he made his permanent home, and 
where he received an academic education. 
He then took up the study of law, and was 
admitted to the bar in 1845. He took a 
leading part in local politics, was a presi- 
dential elector in i860, casting his ballot 
for Breckenridge and Lane, and in 1861 
was a delegate to the state convention which 
passed the ordinance of secession. In May, 
of the same year, he joined the Confederate 
army as a private in Company I, Cahawba 
Rifles, and was soon after made major and 
then lieutenant-colonel ofthe Fifth Regiment. 
In 1862 he was commissioned colonel, and 
soon after made brigadier-general and as- 
signed to the command of a brigade in Vir- 
ginia. He resigned to join his old regiment 
whose colonel had been killed; He was 
soon afterward again made brigadier-gen- 
eral and given command of the brigade that 
included his regiment. 

After the war he returned to the prac- 
tice of law, and continued it up to the time 
of his election to the United States senate, itr 
1877. He was a presidential elector in 1876 
and cast his vote for Tilden and Hendrick* 



COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY. 



217 



He was re-elected to the senate in 1883, 
and again ia 1889, and 1895. His speeches 
and the measures he introduced, marked 
as they were by an intense Americanism, 
brought him into national prommence. 



WILLIAM McKINLEY, the twenty-fifth 
president of the United States, was 
born at Niles, Trumbull county, Ohio, Jan- 
uary 29, 1844. He was of Scotch-Irish 
ancestry, and received his early education 
in a Methodist academy in the small village 
of Poland, Ohio. At the outbreak of the 
war Mr. McKinley was teaching school, 
earning twenty-five dollars per month. As 
soon as Fort Sumter was fired upon he en- 
listed in a company that was formed in 
Poland, which was inspected and mustered 
in by General John C. Fremont, who at 
first objected to Mr. McKinley, as being too 
young, but upon examination he was finally 
accepted. Mr. McKinley was seventeen 
when the war broke out but did not look his 
age. He served in the Twenty-third Ohio 
Infantry throughout the war, was promoted 
from sergeant to captain, for good conduct 
on the field, and at the close of the war, 
for meritorious services, he was brevetted 
major. After leaving the army Major Mc- 
Kinley took up the study of law, and was 
admitted to the bar, and in 1869 he took 
his initiation into politics, being elected pros- 
ecuting attorney of his county as a Republi- 
can, although the district was usually Demo- 
cratic. In 1 876 he was elected to congress, 
and in a call upon the President-elect, Mr. 
Hayes, to whom he went for advice upon the 
way he should shape his career, he was 
told that to achieve fame and success he 
must take one special line and stick to it. 
Mr. McKinley chose tariff legislation and 
he became an authority in regard to import 
duties. He was a member of congress for 



many years, became chairman of the ways 
and means committee, and later he advo- 
cated the famous tariff bill that bore his 
name, which was passed in 1S90. In the 
next election the Republican party was 
overwhelmingly defeated through the coun- 
try, and the Democrats secured more than 
a two thirds majority in the lower house, 
and also had control of the senate, Mr. 
McKinley being defeated in his own district 
by a small majority. He was elected gov- 
ernor of Ohio in 1891 by a plurality of 
twenty-one thousand, five hundred and 
eleven, and two years later he was re-elected 
by the still greater plurality of eighty thou- 
sand, nine hundred and ninety-five. He was 
a delegate-at-large to the Minneapolis Re^ 
publican convention in 1892, and was in- 
structed to support the nomination of Mr. 
Harrison. He was chairman of the con^ 
vention, and was the only man from Ohio 
to vote for Mr. Harrison upon the roll call. 
In November, 1892, a number of prominent 
politicians gathered in New York to discuss 
the political situation, and decided that the 
result of the election had put an end to Mc- 
Kinley and McKinleyism. But in less than 
four years from that date Mr. McKinley was 
nominated for the presidency against the 
combined opposition of half a dozen rival 
candidates. Much of the credit for his suc- 
cess was due to Mark A. Hanna, of Cleve- 
land, afterward chairr.ian of the Republican 
national committee. At the election which 
occurred in November, 1896, Mr. McKinley 
was elected president of the United States 
by an enormous majority, on a gold stand- 
ard and protective tariff platform. He was 
inaugurated on the 4th of March, 1897, 
and called a special session of congress, to 
which was submitted a bill for tariff reform, 
which was passed in the latter part of July 
of that year. 



218 



COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY. 



piNCINNATUS HEINE MILLER, 
V> known in the literary world as Joaquin 
Miller, "the poet of the Sierras," was born 
at Cincinnati, Ohio, in 1841. When only 
about thirteen years of age he ran away 
from home and went to the mining regions 
in California and along the Pacific coast. 
Some time afterward he was taken prisoner 
by the Modoc Indians and lived with them 
for five years. He learned their language 
and gained great influence with them, fight- 
ing in their wars, and in all modes of living 
became as one of them. In 1858 he left 
the Indians and went to San Francisco, 
where he studied law, and in i860 was ad- 
mitted to the bar in Oregon. In 1866 he 
was elected a county judge in Oregon and 
served four years. Early in the seventies 
he began devoting a good deal of time to 
literary pursuits, and about 1874 he settled 
in Washington, D. C. He wrote many 
poems and dramas that attracted consider- 
able attention and won him an extended 
reputation. Among his productions may be 
mentioned "Pacific Poems," "Songs of the 
Sierras," "Songs of the Sun Lands," 
"Ships in the Desert," " Adrianne,aDream 
of Italy," "Danites," "Unwritten History," 
" First Families of the Sierras " (a novel), 
" One Fair Woman " (a novel), "Songs of 
Italy," "Shadows of Shasta," "The Gold- 
Seekers of the Sierras," and a number of 
others. 



/^EORGE FREDERICK ROOT, a 
VJ noted music publisher and composer, 
was born in Sheffield, Berkshire county! 
Massachusetts, on August 30, 1820. While 
working on his father's farm he found time 
to learn, unaided, several musical instru- 
ments, and in his eighteenth year he went 
10 Boston, where he soon found employ- 
ment as a teacher of music. From 1839 



until 1844 he gave instructions in music in 
the public schools of that city, and was also 
director of music in two churches. Mr. 
Root then went to New York and taught 
music in the various educational institutions 
of the city. He went to Paris in 1850 and 
spent one year there in study, and on his re- 
turn he published his first song. "Hazel 
Dell." It appeared as the work of "Wur- 
zel." which was the German equivalent of 
his name. He was the originator of the 
normal musical institutions, and when .the 
first one was started in New York he 
was one of the faculty. He removed to 
Chicago. Illinois, in i860, and established 
the firm of Root & Cady. and engaged in 
the publication of music. He received, in 
1872, the degree of "Doctor of Music" 
from the University of Chicago. After the 
war the firm became George F. Root & Co., 
of Cincinnati and Chicago. Mr. Root did 
much to elevate the standard of music in this 
country by his compositions and work as a 
teacher. Besides his numerous songs he 
wrote a great deal of sacred music and pub- 
lished many collections of vocal and instru- 
mental music. For many years he was the 
most popular song writer in America, and 
was one of the greatest song writers of the 
war. He is also well-known as an author, 
and his work in that line comprises: "Meth- 
ods for the Piano and Organ," "Hand- 
book on Harmony Teaching, " and innumer- 
able articles for the musical press. Among 
his many and most popular songs of the 
war time are: " Rosalie, the Prairie-flower, " 
"Battle Cry of Freedom." " Just Before the 
Battle," "Tramp, Tramp, Tramp, the Boys 
are Marching," "The Old Folks are Gone." 
"A Hundred Years Ago," "Old Potomac 
Shore, "and " There's Music in the Air." Mr. 
Root's cantatas include " The Flower Queen" 
and "The Haymakers." He died in 1896. 



HISTORY 

OF 

WEXFORD COUNTY. MICHIGAN. 



CHAPTER 1. 



MICHIGAN. 



Micliigan is a part of that almost un- 
known quantity designated at the beginning 
of tlie last century as the Northwest Terri- 
tory. In 1805 a ])art of this great territory 
was set off and given the name of "Michi- 
gan Territory." The lines describing this 
territory were not the same as those now 
defining the boundaries of the state of Mich- 
igan, for it is said that owing to some dis- 
pute as to the southern boundary line, con- 
gress, to appease the desire of the Michigan 
representatives for more land, "threw in" 
the portion of the state now known as the 
Upper Peninsula, which has proven to be the 
depository of untold mineral wealth, placing 
Michigan well in the front rank of mineral 
producing states of the Union. 

Owing to the fact that in those days all 
inland Iransportatii )n and tra\el was by 
wagun and stage coach, settlements remote 
from the lake shore were for many years 
very few and were usually found along such 
rivers as were navigable, and these grew 



very slowly. The lack of transportation fa- 
cilities was not the only retarding element 
in the settlement of the state. The ague had 
full sway throughout nearlv the whole 
southern part of the state, and it soon be- 
came known everywhere that to go to Mich- 
igan meant to be shaken with .the ague for 
a year or more, \\-ith accompanying doctor 
and drug bills, and there is little doubt that 
ihe fear of the ague diverted many of those 
who were constantly joining in the "west- 
ward march of empire" from the fertile 
lands of Michigan to more distant homes in 
the still newer "West."* In this age of rapid 
transit and rapid development, when vil- 
lages and even cities spring up almost in a 
day, it looks strange that it should have tak- 
en over thirty years for the territory of Mich- 
igan to h;i\e .■n'ri\ccl at the .'lijo of 



* "West" was the designation given by eastern people to all 
the country lying west of the state of New York. The author well 
remembers that when his grandfather moved from Cattaraugus 
county. New York, to Oakland county, Michigan, they called 



220 



WEXFORD COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



stateliood : Ijut when we go back to that peri- 
od and in our mind's eye see conditions as 
tliey then existed we ahnost \\onder that 
enongli people could have been induced to 
find homes within the lx)unds of the state to 
entitle it to admission into the Union. 

In June. 1836, congress passed an en- 
abling- act to admit Michigan to the Union, 
but there were certain conditions contained 
in tiie act which had to be complied with on 
the part of the state. In due course of time 
these stipulations were carried out and on 
January 26, 1837, a supplemental act was 
passed by congress by which Michigan was 
declared to be "one of the United States of 
America, and admitted into the Union on 
an equal footing with the original states, in 
all respects whatever." 

At that time there was not a mile of rail- 
road in Michigan except what was known 
as the Erie & Kalamazoo, which had been 
built from the town of Port Lawrence 
(which name was later changed to Toledo) 
to .Adrian, a distance of twenty-three miles. 
Tiiis was what was known in those days as 
a "strap" railroad, the rails being made of 
wood and coxered with a wide bar or strap 
of wrought iron. The cars on this line had 
been drawn by horses up to within six davs 
of the lime Michigan became a state, but 
on January 20, 1837. the owners of this line 
put on a steam locomotive, which was the 
first locomotive ever used in the state. 

Previous to this time there had been 
much talk alxjut railroads, and as carlv as 
1830 a ciini))any was organized to build 
what was to be called the Detroit 
& St. Joseph Railroad. The name 
was changed later to the Michigan Central. 
After the company had expended about one 
hundred and twentv-five thousand dollars 



and within tv>-o months after the state had 
started in to do business for itself, an act was 
passed ijy the legislature authorizing the 
purchase of this road by the state and pro- 
viding for its early completion. The work 
was taken hold of on the part of the state, 
money being raised on state bonds to pay 
for the work, and within a year from its 
birth the state had completed its railroad 
from Detroit to Dearborn, a distance of ten 
miles. At this rate it would have taken 
twenty years and more to have completed 
the road, but the state kept on issuing its 
bonds and trying to build its railroad until 
finall) it was forced to call a halt, as the 
continual process of issuing bonds had so 
injured the credit of the state that an issue 
of fifty thousand dollars of bonds were sold 
in New York in 1845 foi" eighteen cents on 
the dollar. This condition of things created 
a strong desire on the part of the state to 
sell its "ele)jhant." and negotiations were 
forthwith authorized with that end in view. 
After many months of delay the sale was at 
la.st made, and on September 23, 1846, the 
road passed into the hands of the Michigan 
Central "Railroad Company. So anxious had 
been the state to get the road off its hands 
that t!ic company drove a remarkably good 
bargain, one which has caused the state a 
good deal of annoyance since. 

During this time the state had had a 
somewhat similar experience with the Mich- 
igan S<nithern Railroad, now known as the 
Lake Shore & Michigan Southern Railroad. 
The stale had paid out nearly a million d(_>l- 
lars in the construction of this road, antl 
upon its sale to the Southern Michigan 
Railroad Company, in December, 1846, it 
could only realize fi\e hundred thousand 
dollars from its investment. 



WEXFORD COUNTY. MICHIGAN. 



221 



While these ventures in railroad build- 
ing were not a source of profit to the state 
in a financial way, they attracted public at- 
tention lo Michigan, and the people along 
their Imes, no doubt, came into the enjoy- 
ment of railroad privileges much earlier 
than they would have done had railroad 
building been confined to private enter- 
prise. 

Witli the building of railroads came new 
settlers in increased numbers, until at the 
tinie of the adoption of the present consti- 
tution in 1850, the census reports show a 
population of three hundred and ninety-five 
thousand and seventy-one, as compared with 
about one hundred and eighteen thousand 
when the state was admitted. This growth, 
however, had been confined almost entirely 
to that portion of the state lying south of 
the center line of the Lower Peninsula. In 
ma^iy of tlie northern counties not even 
township lines had been survexed when the 
territory became a state in 1837. It is not 
strange, therefore, that the whole of this 
northern end of the Lower Peninsula should 
have been looked upon by those living in 
the southern counties as a valueless wilder- 
ness. At that time there were the remnants 
of several tribes of Indians living in what 
now constitutes the counties of Antrim, 
Charlevoix, Emmet, Kalkaska, Grand Trav- 
erse and Leelenau. and as early as May, 
1839, two evangelical missionaries located 
at what is now known as Old Mission, in 
Grand Traverse county, with the purpose 
in view of teaching and Christianizing the 
Indians. They were well received and their 
work bore good fruit. Three years later 
the result of the work of the missionaries 
was shown 1)y a desire on the part of the 
Indians to raise something more than corn 



for food, consequently a barrel of wheat was 
brought by them from Green Bay, Wiscon- 
sin, and sown under instructions of the mis- 
sionaries. This was probably the first wheat 
sown in northern Michigan, certainly the 
first of which we can find any authentic rec- 
ord. 

Little by little civilization kept encroach- 
ing upon savagery and more white people 
were getting a knowledge of the natural ad- 
vantages offered by this hitherto unknown 
part of the state, and in the year 1847 3. 
hardy homeseeker by the name of Board- 
man took up his residence where Traverse 
City now stands. He built the first house 
that was put up on the present site of Trav- 
erse City, and from him the river, empty- 
ing into the bay at that point, and the lake 
a short distance up the river, received their 
name. He also built a .small .saw-mill, op- 
erated by water ])()\ver on a creek which 
enters linanlman river about a mile from 
its mouth. When this mill was erected there 
was not another saw-mill within a hundred 
miles in any direction. 

In 185 1 the firm of Hannah, Lay & 
Company located at wiiat is now known as 
Traverse City and started upon a business 
career which pnned wonderfully successful. 
Mr. Hannah liad [irexiously visited that lo- 
cality and ascertained by personal examina- 
tion the great quantity of pine timber along 
the Boardman river, and, having had consid- 
erable experience in the lumber business, saw 
at once that there was a grand opening for 
a lucrative business. The firm bought a 
large quantity of pine land that cost them 
only one dollar and a quarter per acre. I'hey 
started in in a moderate way, for in those 
days markets were limited, prices were low, 
and transportation facilities were confined 



222 



WEXFORD COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



exclusively to sailing vessels on the lakes 
and it took from six to nine days to land a 
small cargo of lumber in Chicago from Tra- 
verse Bay. Their first saw-mill was the one 
heretofore mentioned as having been built by 
Mr. Boardman and which they purchased 
of him. This was what was known as a 
"muley mill," having but one upright saw, 
which under the most favorable circumstan- 
ces would ntit cut more than two and a half 
or three thousand feet of lumber in twelve 
hours. This proved to be altogether too 
slow a process even for those slow times and 
accordingly, in the spring of 1852, they 
commenced tlie construction of the first 
steam saw-mill ever built in northern ]\Iichi- 
gan. Having already cleared out the Board- 
man ri\x'r far enough to reach the first or 
nearest of their pine lands, they were in po- 
sition to do what was then considered a "big 
lumber business." 

i he advent of Hannah. Lav & Company 
was the "dawning of the morning" in the 
settlement and de\'elo]Mnent of the whole 
( irand Traserse region. Thev furnished 
work for all ajjplicants. 'Jdiey supplied the 
wants of all newcomers, and In- their liberal 
.and honorable dealings did much to encour- 
age tli(jse seeking homes. But the liome 
seekers were not numerous for the first few 
years. The \ast unbroken forest that 
stretched back from the little opening made 
at Tra\erse City to a seemingly unlimited 
distance was not very inviting to those who 
had lived in an old settled country. So the 
'fifties passed by and the total population in 
Cirand Traverse county (Indians excepted) 
was twelve hundred and eight v-six. This 
included the ])eople who were connected 
with the mill, the boarding house, the lum- 
ber camps and those who had been bold 



enough to strike out into the forests to make 
homes for themselves. 

Then came the great, cruel war, and for 
four weary, woeful years huncheds of thous- 
ands of "the flower of manhood" had to face 
far more dangers and difficulties than a 
Michigan wilderness ofifered, and the 
thoughts of seeking new homes in the"west" 
ga\e way to thoughts of how to economize 
and care for the little ones at home while 
the husbands and fathers were fighting the 
battles for the Union on southern fields, lan- 
guishing in pestilential prison pens, or sleep- 
ing the last long sleep in unknown graves in 
the blood-stained "sunny South." But in 
spite of all this strife and carnage in one sec- 
tion of our country there was still a steady 
increase in the popvdation around Traverse 
Bay, the census of 1864 showing two thous- 
and and twenty-six, or an increase of only 
se\en hundred and forty in four years. In 
the spring of 1865 the war ended and thous- 
ands upon thousands of the boys in blue re- 
turned to their former homes. The spirit of 
ad\enture arouseil !)y army service would 
not permit many of the returning soldiers to 
settle down to the humdrum routine to which 
they had been accustomed before enlisting, 
and the westward stream of adventurous 
homeseekers grew into a mighty river and 
such a growth and development as the new 
stales .'ind territories of the west witnessed in 
the next ten \ears has ne\er had a parallel 
in the history of the world. One important 
factor in this great stride of advancement 
was the l)ui!(ling of the trans-continental 
railroad. This, in addition to the passage 
of the homestead law. giving every head of 
a family one hundred and sixty acres of 
land, bv the ])avnicnl of a nominal sum and 
living on the land for five years, soon peo- 



WEXFORD COUNTY, iMICHIGAN. 



223 



pled a vast area of country which otiierwise 
wmild ha\c' cnntimied to remain in its pri- 
nie\al state tor an indelinite len,i;1h ol 
lime. 

Tliis great western mo\'ement of poiju- 
lation came at a time wlien northern Miclii- 
gan was ripe to receive it, and the tide surged 
back from tlie shores of the great lakes, and 
particularly from Traverse Bay, until the 



bounds of one countv were too limited to 
recei\'e and contain it, and it soon began to 
]-A\> ovev into ;idiacent counties as if deter- 
mined that the time had come when the giant 
forests which for centuries had held full 
swav throughout this whole section of the 
state should yield its scepter to man, the lord 
of creation, and henceforth administer to his 
desires and demands. 



CHAPTER 11. 



KAUTAWyVUBET OR WEXFORD COUNTY. 



1 )ii|-ing- the years iS^dand i S^;: the 1 'ni- 
le<l Slates surxeyors had reached the terri- 
tory now known as \Vexford county, in 
their preliminary or township line surx-ey, 
but it was not until the year 1840 that a 
name was given to that part of the state 
known as townships 21, 2_', 23 and 24 north 
of ranges 9, 10, 11 and 12 west. The first 
name to this territory was Kautawaubet, 
supposed to have been an Indian name, but 
it was afterwards discovered that the name 
had no particular significance and in 1843 
the name was changed to Wexford. There 
must have been some one around from the 
"Emerald Tsle" when this change of name 
was suggested, as it is only in Ireland that 
we find the name Wexford ap|)lied to a lo- 
cality previous to its having been used to 
designate a part of the wilderness of north- 
ern Michigan. 



It was some Iwche or fifteen years af- 
ter the townslii]) hues had been established 
before the go\ernment found time to divide 
the townships up into secticj'ns. This work 
would tlouljtless have been done soon- 
er had there been any demantl for 
the land, but no one then would 
have taken land in Wexford county 
as a gift, while on the prairies, in states far- 
ther west, it was difficult to make surveys 
fast enough to meet the demands of the con- 
stantly flowing stream of people from the 
east. Soon after the section hues had been 
run an effort was made to secure the build- 
ing of a state road through from Muske- 
gon or Newaygo counties (the settlements 
in these counties being then the most nor- 
therly on the south side of the "Big 
Woods") to the new settlement opening up 
around the shores of the Grand Traverse 



224 



WEXFORD COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



hay. This effort was crowned with success 
wlien tlie legislature of 1857 passed an act 
authorizing the construction of a state road 
to he called the Muskegon, Grand Traverse 
and Northport State Road. This name was 
afterwards changed and when the road was 
finally built it was known as tlie Newaygo 
and Northport State Road. Not much was 
done toward the construction of this road 
until i860. 

In this connection the autlior feels con- 
fident that his readers will be interested in 
a letter from the pen of the Hon. Perry 
Hannah, written in response to a rec|uest for 
some reminiscences of his early experience 
in northern Michigan that might interest 
the readers of a history of Wexford county. 
Wc do this the more readily because in the 
early years of the county's existence all the 
business of the new settlers was done in 
"Traverse City," and largely with the firm 
of Hannah, Lay & Company, managed by 
Mr. Hannah, and all the early settlers were 
well acquainted with him. The letter is here 
given complete: 

Traverse City, Michigan, Jan. '^2, lOOo. 
J. H. Wheeler, Esq.: 

I have your request to write some early facts of my 
experience in the Grand Traverse country that you 
might incorporate in your history of Wexford county. 
This would be more of a tax on my time than I could 
well devote to it, besides it would take a book too large 
for your history to put only a part of it in. I should be 
willing to give you an item or two of my experience that 
has some connection with the affairs of your county. 

In the winter of ISo.'i and 1854 1 made my first trip 
to the "outside" world on snow shoes. Soon after the 
first of January. IS.vl, I left Traverse City, when there 
was not a single hou.se outside the limits of the city, for 
Cirand Rapids. The snow was plump three feet deep, 
light as feathers, and not a single step could be taken 
without the Indian snow shoes. I furnished myself with 
two Indian packers for carrying supplies. It took six 
days to make the trip from here to Grand Kapids. The 
first settlement we reached was Big Rapids, some five or 
six miles this side of the forks of the Muskegon river. 



The wolves got on our track before the first night's 
camping. They were not troublesome to us in the least 
until we had made our camp fires in the evening, then a 
tremendous howl was set up and continued during the 
whole night. We were not in the least troubled as to 
their contact with us, but they broke up our sleep. As 
soon as we left our camp in the morning they followed 
us and picked up any scraps that might be left. They 
continued with us till we were out of the woods. 

There was not a single sign of a trail of any kind to 
travel by. which compelled us to constantly use our 
compass, as very little sunshine can be seen at that 
season of the year beneath the thick timber that then 
shrouded the whole country. This was the most tedious 
journey I ever experienced in the early days of Grand 
Traverse. 

In the winter of 1856-7 I was a member of the state 
legislature. When the legislature adjourned, early in 
the spring, some of the members came and shook hands 
with me and said, "I suppose you have to go to your 
home all the way by stage." This was very amusing to 
me, coming from state legislators, when I knew that my 
trip had to be made ' ' afoot and alone ' ' through the 
long woods. 

In 1857 I was appointed one of the commissioners 
to assist in the work of laying out a state road to be 
called the Muskegon, Grand Traverse and Northport 
State Road. Before we started the survey on the line, 
I concluded it would be a good move to have the route 
looked out, so I engaged a hardy old pioneer and hunter 
to go from Traverse City south and look over the line 
through Wexford county. After being absent for some 
ten days he returned, and in answer to my questions 
regarding the feasibility of the line his reply was, " First 
rate; it could not be better. I tell you, Mr. Hannah, if 
we get a settler through to Grand Traverse on that line 
we will be sure of him. By golly! them hills, they be 
awful big, and they all slope this way, and the settler 
that gets here will never go back over those hills." 
While the hills over the state road are pretty " tall." the 
old hunter got a pretty poor impression on his first trip 
from the state-road point of view. Today we consider 
that Wexford county is not all bills, but is, much of it, 
the best land we have in the state. 

Next is a little incident in building our bridge over 
the Manistee river. George W. Bryant, who lived in 
our village, had located the land where the bridge was 
to cross the river. I had let the contract to Godfrey 
Greilick, a sturdy old German, to build the bridge. Mr. 
Bryant notified Mr. Greilick that in building the bridge 
over the Manistee river he must not cut a single tree on 
his land. The old German, meeting him on the street 
of our village one day, told Mr. Bryant, in very emphatic 
language, " If you come where we do make dot bridge, 



IV EX FORD COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



225 



and I see one tree grow on top your heat, py golly! I cut 
him off." It is needless to say that Mr. Bryant's land 
furnished all the timber for that bridge. 

What a wonderful change in the last fifty years in 
Grand Traverse and Wexford counties. Traverse City 
today has a population of tvve!ve thousand, and the 
Newaygo and Northport state road is lined with many 
beautiful farms. Yours respectfully, 

Perrv Hannah. 

This Ifttei" will j^-ix-c sdiiu'tliiii^- nf an 
idea ol the CDiidition of Wexford county 
le.ss than half a century ago, for it should 
be remembered that the bridge here spoken 
of was built in 1864. only thirty-nine years 
ago. 

The making of this state road progressed 
very slowly and its final completion was not 
until a goodly number of people had settled 
in Wexford county. Its commencement, 
however, was doubtless the direct cause of 
the migration of the first settler to the coun- 
ty. This person was B. W. Hall, whose 
home for several years prior to 1863 had 
l)een in Newaygo count)', who having heard 
something about the Grand Traverse coun- 
try, and knowing of the project of building 
a state road through to it, made up his mind 
to take a trip north and see for himself if 
tiie country was as desirable as it was rec- 
ommended to be. It was in September, 
T862, that he started on this tri]), iiaving 
supplied himself with i)rovisions enougii to 
last five or six days, for traveling through 
the forests in those days, even in the summer 
time, was no easy task. The ground 
throughout nearly all the forest was covered 
w itli a mat of what the early settlers called 
"shin tangle," a growth of vine, or ground 
hemlock, which grew from three to 
six feet in length, but by reason of the 
weight of the snows of many winters it took 
nearly a horizontal position except at tnc 
ends, which turned nearly to the perpendicu- 



lar, somewhat after tiie manner of heavy 
cloxer when it lodges from excessive growth. 
Indeed, it was often called "Michigan clov- 
er," for in the late autumn and early winter 
stock would almost entirely subsist upon it, 
so much so that the milk and butter would 
taste so bitter as to be very unpalatable. 

When .Mr. Hall reached the plateau 
about half a mile north of the Manistee 
ri\er and one and a half miles north of the 
present \illage of Sherman he found a piece 
of land that just suited him. He continued 
on his journey to Traverse City, where the 
United States land ofifice was then located, 
and entered the northwest quarter of section 
30 in town 24, north of range 11 west, un- 
der the pre-emption law, which held the land 
for an individual for six months, at the end 
of which time he must pay the government 
price of one dollar and a quarter per acre or 
lose his claim. The homestead law had not 
then been enacted, and all had to pay "Uncle 
Sam" the same price for his land. After 
cutting down the trees on a small piece of 
his land as a notice to all that the land was 
taken, he retraced his steps over the "trail" 
and began to make the necessary prepara- 
tions for an early removal to his new posses- 
sions in the spring. 

As soon as the snow had melted away 
in the sjiring of 1863, which in those days 
was not until well into May, with such of 
his worldly possessions as he could convey 
in a one horse-wa^on, Mr. Hall, with his 
wife, a cow, some pigs and some chickens, 
started over what is now called the old 
State road. Fallen tree trunks, tangled un- 
derbrush and bridgeless streams he had to 
encounter and overcome, but no obstacles 
were sut^cient to baffle his determination to 
make for himself a home in Wexford coun- 



226 



WEXFORD COUNTY. MICHIGAN. 



ly. For three full weeks he battled with con- 
stantly recurring difficulties, at the end of 
which time he reached the Manistee river. 
Xot a soul had they seen since starting on 
their trip, for there was not a dwelHng be- 
tween Big Prairie on the south till the Mon- 
roe settlement in Grand Traverse county 
Mas reached. Arriving at the river, the next 
thing was how to cross it. Some two miles 
up the river from the line of the state road 
was what was known as the " pony jam," 
where the Indians were in the habit of cross- 
ing with their ponies on their hunting or 
migratory trips. About eighty rods down 
the river was another jam which afforded 
easy crossing on foot but was not very safe 
for four-footed animals. These "jams" 
were made of the trunks of trees which had 
been torn from the banks by the ever-chang- 
ing channel of the river and carried down 
stream until arrested by some projecting 
point of land. Thus for ages and ages had 
these accumulations increased until in some 
ca.ses, like that of the "pony jam," they had 
entirely covered the ri\ er. To see the Manis- 
tee river today one would almost think this 
statement was a fairy tale, but it is never- 
theless true, as a number of people yet liv- 
ing in Wexford county can testify from ac- 
tual and personal knowledge. While Mr. 
Hall was inspecting the jam below the state 
road with a view of making such additions to 
the nearly perfect natural bridge as would 
enable him to move his belongings to the 
north bank of the river, he was agreeably 
surprised to find that another adventurous 
person like himself was camped on the north 
side of the river, bent on getting his mova- 
bles to the south bank of the river. Both 
having the one desire of crossing the river 
in view, the task was much more easily ac- 
complished than either had supposed, and it 



was not long before the crossing was com- 
pleted and each went on his way rejoicing. 
This second settler was Dr. John Perry, who 
was the first settler in the county on the 
south side of the Manistee river. 

The homestead law was an important 
factor in the settlement of A\'exford as well 
as all the other counties in northern Michi- 
gan, and before the close of navigation in 
1864 nearly every available piece ol" govern- 
ment land along the line of the state road 
for seven miles from the north line of the 
county had been taken. This did not mean 
that the new settlers were very numerous, 
as each homesteadei' was entitled to a piece 
of land half a mile .square, so it took only 
four families to locate a whole section of 
land, and as every alternate section had 
been set apart for the purpose of aiding in 
the building of a railroad, the settlers were 
necessarily widely separated. Notwith- 
standing this fact everybody was every- 
body's neighbor, for, as Will Carleton very 
aptly puts it in his "First Settler's Story." 
"Neighbors meant counties in those days." 
People would go three or four miles to a so- 
cial gathering, or to assist a "neighbor" in 
raising a log house, or join in a "logging 
bee" to enable him to get a small patch of 
land ready to raise a little something for 
himself and family to eat. Thus during the 
summer of 1864 log cabins and small clear- 
ings made their appearance in quite a num- 
ber of places in Wexford county where pre- 
viously, for unnuml^ered centuries, the pri- 
nic'xal forest had reigned supreme, undis- 
turbetl by naught save the wild denizens 
who found homes beneath its sheltering 
branches and in its tangled jungles, and the 
almost equally wild Indians who roamed at 
will through its majestic solitudes or fought 
each other to the death in its shadows. 



CHAPTER III. 



ARRiNAL OF NEW SETTLERS CONTINUES. 



As soon as the snow was gone and navi- 
gation opened in the spring of 1864, the tide 
of emigration to the Grand Traverse region 
set in \vitli renewed vigor, and Wexford 
county got its full share of the newcomers. 
These later arrivals were forced to take 
lands farther hack from the state road, and 
consequently had to make roads for them- 
selves from the state roail hack to their re- 
spective homesteads. Tlicre was no higli- 
W'ay commissioner to lay out roatls, and no 
way to raise .funds by tax to open them, 
therefore the roads or "blazed trails" were 
not made on section lines, neither did they 
follow any particular point of the compass. 
They usually took the shortest route to the 
settler's home except where hills or swamps 
intervened, in which case they would pass 
around the obstruction. It was no easy mat- 
ter to follow these trails by those unaccus- 
tomed to "woods lore," and especially was 
it difficult in the twilight or after dark, 
which often occurred \\ith those who were 
forced to work out a part of the time to 
earn something to support their families, or 
in returning from house raisings or logging 
bees. 

An amusing incident was related to the 
writer by a Mr. Durbin, who lived only half 



a mile from the state road, which fully illus- 
trates these difficulties. He had been away 
from home at work and, supper being a lit- 
tle late, it was cfuite dark by the time he 
reached the point where he had to leave tlie 
state road. About half way to his house a 
tree had blown d(jwn, the top falling di- 
rectly in the path. When he reached this 
tree-top he thought he coidd ])ick his way 
around it and tell when he struck the path 
again, as every one familiar with such mat- 
ters knows that there is no sound 
of breaking twigs or crushing leaves in a 
wellljeaten path. He confidently started 
around the tree top, but did not find the 
path. He kqjt on going, however, and soon 
found himself back to the state road. He 
soon found Avhere his path turned into the 
woods again and started for home. When 
he reached the fallen tree-top he resoh'ed 
to take extra caution this time and find the 
path on the other side. He moved very 
carefully and listened intently for the lack 
of snapping and crunching which would in- 
indicate the finding of the path, but, not iind- 
ing it, kept on going, hoping he might see 
liie light in his home, when, to his great 
surprise, he finally reached the state road 
again. He was thoroughly baffled and not 



228 



J VEX FORD COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



a little frightened at this turn of events, but 
finally decided to try it once more. This 
time when he reached the fallen tree-top he 
crawled through it. over the limbs and under 
the brush, never losing touch of the beaten 
path and of course got home all right that 
time. 

When the summer of 1S64 clused there 
were some t\\ent_\' families in the county. 
These were nearly all on the line of the state 
road or within two miles of it. In the spring 
of 1S65 the settlement received numerous 
additions. s<ime coming by boat and some 
overland. During the summer of 1865 an 
arrangement was made by which Jacob York, 
one of the newcomers who had a horse and 
wagon, made weekly trips to Traverse City 
to take out and bring in the mail for the set- 
tlement, and also to do such errands and 
bring in such light articles of merchandise 
or freight as he could in his light wagon. 
By common consent the house of William 
Masters, on the state road, was chosen as 
the place for leaving and receiving letters 
and parcels, and his house soon came to be 
called the "Post(jince." Later in the year 
Mr. Masters was appointed postmaster and 
a mail sack was furnished in which to carrv 
the mail, but the settlers had to jiay Mr. 
York for his services for a year before the 
l)ostoffice department would consent to es- 
tablish a mail route to the new settlement. 

The first school house built in Wexford 
county was made of logs and was situated 
near the county line between Wexford and 
Grand Traverse counties. It was put up by 
\()lunteer work on the part of those interested 
in haxing a school, and the first teacher, 
Zylphia Harper, was paid under the old sys- 
tem of rate bill, for as yet there was not even 
a township or school district organization 



in the county. This school house was, a few 
years later, the scene of the first law suit ever 
held in \\'exford county. It was a case of 
assault and battery between Jay J Copley 
and Myron Baldwin and grew out of the 
holding of the second caucus in \\'exford 
County. The case was ])rcsided o\ cr bv T. I'. 
Uavis. one of tlie justices of the peace 
elected at the first townshij) election held in 
the county, 'i'he writer had charge of the 
jury after tlie linal pleas were made on each 
side, and there being but one room to the 
.school house, and no other building within 
half a mile, he had to turn the spectators, 
lawyers and even the "court" out into the 
street so that the jury could (lelil>eratc in 
seclusion. 

Among the arrivals in the fall of 1865 
was J. H. Wheeler, from western Xew York, 
who had heard of the wonders of Wexfortl 
comity through a brother of B. W. Hall, 
the first settler in the county. Being some- 
what familiar with the saw-mill business, he 
came with the intent of building a saw-mill 
with which to supply the needs of the new 
settlers in the way of lumber. It should be 
remarked here that nearly every house in 
the settlement had thus far been built prac- 
tically without a foot of lumber, for lum- 
ber was very high priced and, besides, it 
would cost thirty to forty dollars per one 
thousand feet to hire it hauled from Trav- 
erse City, the nearest place where a board 
could be found. After the settler had got 
the "body" of his house up, he w<.)uld hew- 
out some pt>les for rafters, split out some 
"ribs" and nail then to the rafters, from six 
inches to one foot apart (according to 
whether he intended to use "shakes" or 
shingles), and nail the shingles or "sliakes" 
to these "ribs." By setting up other hewed 



WEXFORD COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



229 



poles in the gable ends of tlie house from 
the top log to the rafters and nailing "ribs" 
and "shakes" to them, the same as for the 
roof, he soon had his house enclosed. The 
flocir was usually made of thin slabs of elm 
or bass-wood split out and hewed straight 
on the edges and then fitted to the sleepers 
on the lower sides, after which they couUl 
be lined and hewed to make them as even 
as possible on the upper surface. Some- 
times roofs were made of bark and occa- 
sionally an entire "shanty" was built of that 
material. Mr. Hall lived a year in a bark 
"shanty" when he first settled in the county. 
We can yet see, occasionally, a log house 
that was built thirty or thirty-five years ago 
as a home for some homesteai.ler when he 
first became a resident of the county. 

The whole settlement were anxious to 
have a saw-mill built and readily subscribed 
a liberal amount of work toward its erection. 
Plans were perfected during the winter and 
work commenced the following spring, but 
owing to unforseen obstacles encountered in 
building the dam the work was delayed un- 
til the summer of 1867, when the mill was 
started, much to the gratification of the 
community, as well as the owner. This 
was the first saw-mill built in We.Kford 
county. It was an old fashioned "muley" 
mill, something like the one heretofore de- 
scribed as the first mill in northern Michi- 
gan, but it performed an important part in 
the early development of the county. It was 
built on what for many years was known 
as the Wheeler creek, which empties into 
the Manistee river about a mile north of the 
present village of Sherman. A mill still oc- 
cupies the same site, though two structures 
on the same site ha\'e been destroyed by 
fire. Mr. Wheeler also built a frame house 



in the summer of 1867, which was the fir.st 
frame house built in the county. 

I had almost forgotten to describe the 
manner of wintering the stock in those 
early days. Hay there was none for the first 
two years on the homestead, and straw 
was \erv scarce, so some other food 
nuist he substituted. After it was too 
late in the spring to plant ordinary 
crops the settler would clear off a patch 
for turnips or rutabagas, even sometimes 
sowing the seed among the logs after the 
brush had been burned away, not having 
tim.e to entirely clear the land. This crop 
could be put out as late as the 20th of July 
with good results and needed no care from 
seed time until late in the fall, when they 
were pulled and put into pits for the winter 
use. When the snow got so deep that the 
cattle could no longer subsist on the "Michi- 
gan clover," heretofore referred to, the set- 
tler would start in on his winter's job of 
felling trees upon which to browse his 
stock. The cattle soon began to relish and 
even thrive upon the fine twigs of the ma- 
ples, and this, with a liberal feeding of the 
turnips or rutabagas, brought them through 
the winter apparently in as good condition 
as if they had been wintered upon the best 
quality of hay. At the same time necessity 
on the part of the settler to provide for his 
stock was really a virtue in another direc- 
tion, for the more timber he was, obliged 
to cut in the winter the more acres he could 
clear oft" in the summer. 

Judge Chubb, one of the first settlers in 
the township of Cleon, once forming a part 
of Wexford county, and who still resides at 
Copemish in that township, often relates 
his experience in getting through his stock 
the first winter after his arrival. Among 



230 



WEXFORD COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



the other animals he brought with him were 
some pigs, never dreaming of tlie difficulty 
of getting them through the winter, thirty 
miles from the nearest point where feed 
could he had, and with roads — such as they 
were — made impassible by four feet of snow. 
When he had fed out the last of w hat he had 
provided for them, and with no possible 
way of getting more fucKl, he was in rle- 
spair and was sure they wouUl the. If tliey 
liad been in condition to make pork, he says, 
he would have killed them and got some ben- 
efit from tbt-m in that way, but to put off 
the evil day as long as possible in the hope 
that the snow might settle so that he could 
got (lul to Traverse City for supplies, the 
ratiuns to the pigs had been curtailed al- 
most to the st.arxrition point so that there 
was not much left of the pigs, as he puts 
it. but their "s(|ueal." As a last resort, and 
entirely as an e.\])erinient, having never 
heard of the like before, he dro\e his pigs 
lo the woods one morning with the rest of 
the stock and. to his lUter amazement, they 
took right hold of the "browse," and from 
that day on to s])ring they followed the 
cattle every morning to the woods and he 
actually kept them the remainder of that 
winter on "browse." 

In 1867 Oren Fletcher settled in Wex- 
ford county and being a miller by trade, and 
seeing the absolute necessity of a grist-mill, 
he interested the people in the matter, and 
through the encouragements received and. 
donations offered, at once commenced the 
construction of the first grist-mill in the 
county, riic work was pushed vigorously 
and before \\ inter set in the settlers had the 
satisfaction of kn(-nving that they could get 
their gristing done wiliiout ha\ing to go 
twenty-five or thirty miles to Traverse City 



for it, as had hitherto been the case. This 
mil! was built on the creek ever since known 
as I'detciier creek and for some ten years 
was the only grist-mill in the county. 

It was also (Ui'ing the summer of 1867 
that the work of putting the state road in 
passable shai)e for travel was completed. 
While a goodly number of .settlers had al- 
ready arrixed in the county o\er "the trail," 
it was, as the word indicates, only a "trail" 
in many places and far from being in a suit- 
al)le condition for travel. However, steps 
had beer, taken for an overland mail route 
and the first thing to be done was to put the 
state road in shape for travel. This being 
done, the mail route was established, an<l di- 
rect intercourse with the "outside" during 
the whole year was henceforth to be a real- 
ity. Hitherto the only means by which a 
person could lea\e the (Irand Traverse re- 
gion fluring the winter was on foot with the 
aid of snow shoes. Those were long win- 
ters indeed to many, who were strangers 
aniong strangers, and especially to those 
who were inclined to be at all "homesick." 
for with the slow way of getting mail to and 
from Traverse City, and the fact that all 
mail had to be carried on toot or on horse 
back over an Indian trail from Traverse 
City to Manistee or Muskegon, it took from 
three to four weeks for a letter to go and an 
answer to return from any outside point. 

Everybody in the Grand Traverse re- 
gion had been up to this time dependent 
upon Traverse C'ty for ])ro\isions, and as 
Hannah, Lay & Company were the princi- 
pal firm at that i)lace it was necessary for 
them to anticipate the needs of the entire 
region from November, when navigation 
closed, until May. when the first boat could 
be expected. The infiu.x of settlers some- 



WEXFORD COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



231 



times exceeded calculation, and consequently 
provisions at the company's store would 
run pretty low before navigation opened. 
The winter of 1S66-7 witnessed such a heavy 
drain upon their stock of supplies that it 
became necessary for them to adopt the 
plan of selling only fifty pounds of flour 
and ten or fifteen pounds of pork to one 
person, in order to piece the supply out and 
make it last until the first boat should ar- 
rive. 

As soon as the state road was suffi- 
ciently improved to permit of it a mail route 
was established, at first with only weekly 
Irijjs, but verv soon the service was increased 
to six times a week. It required two and a 
half days to make the trip from Traverse 
City to Cedar Springs, the then northern 
terminus of the Grand Rapids & Indiana 
Railroad. At this period George W. Bry- 
ant, of Traverse City, erected quite a large 
two-story building just south of the old 
state road bridge over the Manistee river, 
intending it for a sort of hotel and grocery 
store combined. The work was done by 
Lewis J. Clark, who for some time acted 
as salesman fur Air. Bryant and also as as- 
sistant postmaster for the second postoffice 
established in the county. The name 
gi\'en to this postoffice was Sherman, we 
suppose in honor of General Sherman, as 
it was quite the custom in those days to name 
towns, cities, villages and postoffices after 
some noted general of the late war. This 
name, Sherman, attached itself to the hud- 
dle of houses that were put up when the 
countv was organized and the county seat 
established, and is still retained by the pros- 
perous village near the Manistee ri\er in the 
northwestern part of the county. Mr. Bry- 
ant's object in building nearly a mile north 



of the present location of the \-illage of 
Sherman developed a little later when 
the legislature passed an act organi- 
zing the county of Wexford. The post- 
master at this second postoifice was 
Dr. John I'erry, heretofore spoken of as 
the first settler on the south side of 
Manistee river. New settlers in search of 
homestead locations had kept going farther 
and farther east of the state road until some 
of thent were ten or twelve miles distant 
from the new postoffice and it was a decided 
relief to them to be able to post a letter, 
buy a pound of soda, tea or tobacco or 
twenty-five pounds of floin- without having 
to go four mi-les farther north to the little 
grocery kept by Mr. Masters, the first post- 
master in the covnit}'. 

Mr. Clark tised to tell an amusing story 
of a settler living eight miles east of the 
postoffice coming in one day for some gro- 
ceries. Among other things he wanted a 
hundred pounds of flour, and when asked 
by Mr. Clark how he was going to get the 
things home, replied, "On my back." Upon 
being told by Mr. Clark that his supply of 
flour was quite low, and that it would 1)e 
several days before he received a nen- sup- 
ply, and that consequently he could only 
spare him twenty-five pounds, in order that 
he might have some left to supply the wants 
of other needy customers, the man replied, 
"Huh! that would not make biscuit f^r 
breakfast for my family." It may seem 
strange to state that a man would think of 
carrying a hundred pounds of flour besides 
other small groceries a distance of eight 
miles on his back, but backing, or "packing," 
as it was then called, was a common way for 
the settler to get his provisions home. There 
is a man living in the county today who on 



232 



WEXFORD COUNTY. MICHIGAN. 



more than one occasion carried a hundred 
pounds of flour and several packages of 
small groceries from Traverse City to his 
liome in what in now Wexford township, 
a distance of twenty-eight miles and would 
do it hetween sunrise and sunset. This man's 
name is R. W. Updike, a man whose repu- 
tation for truth and veracity was never ques- 
tioned by those who knew iiim. 

Thus Avill be seen some of tlie diflicul- 
ties surrounding the new settlers. Most of 
tliom were from the common walks of life, 
and not one in ten of them was able to pro- 
vide himself with a team as one of the nec- 
essary things to take with him into a new 
wilderness country. Consequently "pack- 
ing" was a very common thing, and clearing 
land by hard labor about as common. The 
first crop was always sown without plow- 
ing the lantl, and fre(|nent!y the second crop 
would be put in tlie same wav, it being im- 



possible to get team work to do more than 
harrow in the seed. Corn was frequently 
and potatoes nearly always planted just as 
the tire left the lan.d, without the aid of 
either plow or harrow. This cumpulsory 
manner of farming did not bring the results 
that a better system would have done, but 
it was the best many could do and sufficed 
to keep tlie wolf from the door until such 
time as team work would be more jjlentiful. 
For three or four years there was l:)ut one 
horse team in the county and but three or 
four ox teams, and in drawing supplies 
from Tra\erse City, hauling together the 
logs for the houses of the new settlers, at- 
tending logging bees to enable some new 
comer to get in a few potatoes or a small 
patch of winter wheat, they had all tlicy 
could possibly do without drawing the 
])low. 



CHAPTER IV. 



FIRST ELECTIONS. 



Wexford county, up to the year 1866, 
was attached to the township of Brown, of 
Manistee county, for assessment and judi- 
cird purposes. At the annual meeting of the 
board of supervisors of Manistee county in 
iSi^J^) the whole county of Wexford was or- 
ganized into a new township, to be known 
by the name of Wexford. It was ordered 



that the first election should be held on the 
first Monday of April in 1867. when a full 
set of township oflficers should be elected. 
Previous to this time none of the 
numerous \oters in the county had 
cast a ballot since he had resided 
in the county. One could have voted 
if he wanted to do so bad enough to 



WEXFORD COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



233 



tramp tliroiigli the \\ooils a distance of 
twenty-tive or thirty miles to the polling 
place in the township of Brown in Manistee 
county, but no one had availed himself of 
that privilege. 

Just a day or two before town meeting 
day, a couple of families got together one 
evening and made up a ticket for the com- 
ing election. The head of one family was 
put on f!)r supervisor and one of the justices 
of the peace and his son for township clerk, 
while the head of the other family was not 
forgotten, being allotted one of the high- 
way commissionerships, there being three 
for each township in those days. There was 
quite a little gathering at the polling place — 
being' the first school house heretofore re- 
ferred to — and, being shown the tickets, 
which had been written out for the occasion, 
they began to inquire where and when the 
caucus was held that selected these candi- 
dates. The nominee for supervisor, Hiram 
Copley, made the remark that if they did 
not like the ticket they could go around back 
of the school house and hold another cau- 
cus and pat up another ticket. This was 
said in a manner that indicated that he was 
sure of his electi(in, no matter what was 
done, as he was at the head of the Republi- 
can ticket and nearly all of the voters were 
Republicans. However, a majority of those 
present took him at his word. They got 
together on the sunny side of the school 
house, fcir it was a raw .Vpril day with lots 
of snow on the ground, and made up a ticket 
and then went in and elected it. We are 
unable to give the exact number of votes 
polled at that election, but from the best 
recollection of the writer, who was there 
and .stayed until the votes were counted, 
there were not to exceed thirtv votes cast. 



As soon as possible after this election 
the highway commissioners commenced the 
work of laying out such roads as were nec- 
essary, and the school inspectors, acting in 
conjunction with those in the adjoining 
township of Grand Traverse count}', organ- 
ized a fractional school district, comprising 
territory on either side of the county line 
between the two counties. The site of the 
school house was in Wexford county, thus 
making this the first duly organized school 
district in the county. At the first election, 
Lewis C. Dunham was elected supervisor 
and George A. Smalley township clerk. 

At the next township meeting there was 
also a "bolt" from the nominees of the Re- 
publican caucus. The "old" settlers had 
planned to nominate Gibbs Dodge, a bright 
young" man who lived on section 29 in Wex- 
ford township, as it now exists, for super- 
visor, while the "new" settlers who had re- 
cently settled in the township now known as 
Colfax wished to nominate E. C. Dayhuff, 
one of their neighbors, to that office. This 
feeling in favor of Mr. Dayhuff was un- 
known to fhe friends of Mr. Dodge, con- 
sequently no effort was made to get the vot- 
ers out to the caucus. But when caucus day 
arrived it proved that Mr. Dayhuff's friends 
outnujubered those of Mr. Dodge and the 
nomination went to Mr. Dayhuff. This so 
exasperated the "old" settlers that they went 
to work and put up a Union ticket in oppo- 
sition to what they called the Dayhuff ticket. 
Between the time of holding the caucus and 
the first Monday in April there was a very 
heavy fall of snow and when election day 
dawned it was found that the roads leading 
to the eastern settlements were impassible 
and no one from that direction got to the 
polls. The result was that Mr. Dayhuff 



234 



WEXFORD COUNTY. MICHIGAN. 



was defeated and Mr. Dunham was re- 
elected supervisor. So sure was Mr. Day- 
huff tliat he would be elected that he had 
written his friends "outside" to direct their 
letters to him as supervisor, and letters ac- 
tually came to the postoffice directed to "E. 
C. Dayhuff, Sujjcrxisor of Wexford Town- 
ship." 

In the Manistee county convention in 
]868, called for the selection of delegates 
to the state convention, which chose dele- 
gates to the presidential convention, Gibbs 
Dodge was chosen to represent W^exford, 
which thus contributed its mite to that over- 
whelming tide of popular sentiment which 
resulted in ])Iacing the hero of .\ppomattox 
in the presidential chair. 

During this political campaign it be- 
came apparent to the settlers in the new 
county that the time had come when we were 
entitled to a county organization. Accord- 
ingly at the ne.xt session of the legislature, 
which convened in January, an act for the 
organization of the county was passed. The 
terms of this act disclose the handiwork of 
Mr. Ihyant, and .show why he had put up 
his store building and made a little clear- 
ing on the bank of the Manistee river near 
the state road bridge. After providing for 
time and manner of organization, the act 
provided for the location of a county seat. 
It .'-tii)ulated that the county seat should be 
located on section 36, in town 24, north of 
range 12 west, " At or near the ManLstee 
Ijridge," and appointing II. I. Devoe. I. N. 
Davis and Iv C. Dayhuff as commissioners 
to decide the particular spot where it should 
he. After looking the situation over care- 
fully and learning something of Mr. Bry- 
ant's parsimony, and fearing that a village 



would not thrive where he owned all the 
available building sites, they determined to 
exercise all the discretion given them by the 
act and accordingly located the county seat 
within four hundred feet of the southeast 
comer of section 36. nearly three-fourths of 
a mile from Mr. Bryant's intended site on 
the bank of the Klanistee river. 

The act of organization divided the 
county into four townships, :ind attached 
Missaukee county to Wexford county for 
judicial purposes. The names and dimen- 
sions of the townships were as follows: 
Wexfortl, comprising the same territory as 
now. viz: six miles square; Springville. 
comprised of si.x si\rveyed townships, viz : 
towns 21, 22 and 23 north of ranges 1 1 and 
12 west; Hanover, of seven surveyed town- 
ships, viz : Township 24 north of ranges 5. 
6, 7, 8, 9, 10 and 11 west, and Colfax, of 
townships 21, 22 and 23 north of ranges 
5, 6, 7. 8, 9 and 10 west, or eighteen sm^- 
veyed townships. 

The Republicans and Democrats each 
nominated candidates for the different of- 
fices and the Republicans carried the day on 
their entire ticket with the exception of 
judge of probate. This candidate's name 
was Solomon C. Worth and in one town 
the tickets were written S. C. ^^'orth and 
by throw ing this town out, or in other words, 
counting it as if for a different person, gave 
the Democratic candidate, I. N. Carpenter, 
more votes than for either Solomon C. 
Worth or S. C. Worth. The new officers 
were as follows: Sheriff. Harrison H. Skin- 
ner; treasurer, John II. Wheeler; county 
clerk and register of deeds, Leroy P. Cham- 
penois; judge of probate, Isaac X. Carpen- 
ter; superintendent of schools, C. L. Xorth- 



WEXFORD COUNTY. MICHIGAN. 



235 



rup; surveyor, R. S. ]\[cClain. The highest 
number of votes cast for any candidate was 
one hundred and twenty-nine. 

At this election, which was held on the 
day designated by law for holding the annu- 
al townsliip meetings, a full set of town- 
ship officers for each of the new townships 
were elected, the supervisors of the several 
towns being as follows : Colfax, R. S. Mc- 
Clain ; Hanover, L. C. Northrup ; Spring- 
ville, William Thomas; Wexford, H. I. De- 
voe. The first meeting of the board of su- 
pervisors of \\'^exford county was a special 
meeting held on the first day of May, 1869, 
at the home of Sylvester Clark, at which 
meeting H. I. Devoe was elected chairman 
of the board. The board at this meeting 
appointed Lewis Cornell, William Thomas 
and Erasmus Abbott as superintendents of 
poor and took action looking to a settle- 
ment with Manistee county. It also fixed 
the salaries of the new county officers, giv- 
ing the sheriff and treasurer each four hun- 
dred dollars per year, the clerk three hun- 
dred dollars and the judge of probate two 
hundred dollars.* 

There being no newspaper printed in the 
county, the Traverse Bay Eagle was selected 
to do the county printing. The board also 
authorized it.*^ chairman to select a suitable 
place for holding the circuit court for the 
county. As there was no lawyer in the 
county, a petition for the appointment of 
O. H. Mills, of Traverse City, as prosecut- 
ing attorney was forwarded to Hon. J. G. 
Ramsdell. judge of the circuit to which Wex- 
ford countv belonged, and Mr. Mills was 



* At a subsequent meeting the resolution fixing thes 
as above stated was rescinded and the salaries fixed at 
dred dollars for the sherifiE. seventy-five dollars for the treasur 
one hundred and titty dollars for the clerk and one hundred doll 
for the judge of probate. 
14 



hun 



accordingly made the first prosecuting at- 
torney of Wexford county. 

At the annual meeting of the board of 
supervisors, in October, 1869, the county 
treasurer's report showed the total receipts 
to have been six hundred and fourteen dol- 
lars and twenty-nine cents and the expen- 
ditures four hundred and forty dollars and 
nineteen cents, leaving a balance in the treas- 
ury of one hundred and seventy-four dol- 
lars and ten cents. At this first annual 
meeting of the board, the valuation of the 
several -townships was as follows : 

TOWNSHIPS. REAL EST. PERSONAL. TOTAL. 

Colfax $.558,839.72 $ 8,071.67 $.566,911.39 

Hanover 216,751.00 10,528.68 227,279.68 

SpringviUe 97,468.29 8,225.00 105,69,3.29 

Wexford 22,304.60 19,090.00 41,394.60 

Total 5895,363.61 145,915,35 $941,278.96 

It must not be forgotten that this total 
covers the valuation of the entire county of 
Missaukee as well as Wexford county, and 
it should also be remembered that the tax 
law at that time exempted homesteads from 
taxation, but provided that the improve- 
ments on homesteads should be assessed as 
personal property. This accounts for the 
comparatively large proportion of personal 
property on the tax rolls. 

At a special meeting of the board of su- 
pervisors held in January, 1870, the matter 
of building a court house was decided upon, 
and a building committee appointed whose 
duty it was to advertise for sealed bids for 
the erection of a court house in accordance 
with plans and specifications prepared by 
William Holdsworth, Sr., of Traverse City, 
the cost not to exceed five thousand dollars. 
exclusive of the foundation, which was un- 
der a separate contract. J. H. Wheeler was 
the successful bidder for the court house 



236 



WEXFORD COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



job and tlie preparatory work was entered 
upon at once. One great reason why the 
work of building a court house was begun 
so soon after the county was organized was 
the fact that the Grand Rapids & Indiana 
Railroad was pushing its road northward 
which it was feared that when it went 
through Wexford county tliere would 
be some point on its line where a 
town would spring up and would be 
desirous of having the county seat, and 
it was thought that the building of a 
court house would tend to prevent the 
removal of the county seat. To further 
strengthen this feature of the situation, 
when the deed was drawn to the county 
for the site of the court house it was made 
for so long as the property was used for 
county seat purposes. Surely this, it was 
thought, would hold the county seat, for 
when the \oters understood that by a removal 
of the county seat the county would lose five 
or six thousand dollars which it had put 
into a court house and jail, it would cause 
them to vote against removal. How little 
such reasoning amounted to will be seen 
later when the fight over the county seat 
really got warmed up. 

As there were no rooms that could be 
rented for county offices, the officers held 
their respective offices at their residences. 
The first session of the circuit court was held 
in the little log hotel kept by Sylvester Clark. 
The only thing for the "court" to do was to 
give suggestions to the new sheriff and oth- 
er officers regarding the duties they might 
be called upon to perform, and to instruct 
the county clerk as to what books it would 
be necessary to have for court work. 

When the location of the county seat 
had been definitelv settled ]Mr. Hcnrv Clark, 



who had been very active in securing the 
site for the county buildings, contributing 
four hundred dollars in cash for that pur- 
pose, besides donating about three acres of 
land, induced E. G. Maqueston, of Big 
Rapids, to come to Sherman and build a 
store building and engage in a general mer- 
cantile business. Mr. Maqueston had never 
done anything in that line, but his brother, 
I. H. Maqueston, of Xew York, was some- 
what familiar with the mercantile business 
and it was not long before the two brothers 
had decided to embark in business in the 
new county of Wexford. They commenced 
at once the construction of a large store 
building, twenty-two by sixty feet in size 
and two stories high. This was completed 
about the first of September, 1869, and was 
quite an imposing structure, being the sec- 
ond frame building put up in what is now 
know n as the village of Sherman. The build- 
ing still stands and during all these years has 
been used as a general store. The second 
story of this building was left for a hall 
which could be used for court room, danc- 
ing hall or church services, and, as a matter 
of fact, it was used at different times for all 
these purposes. It was in this hall that the 
first preaching services were held in Sher- 
man, and, so far as any record can be found, 
in the county, except one or two funeral 
services which had been previously held. 
This first preaching service was on the last 
Sunday in December, 1869, conducted by 
Rev. A. K. llerrington, who had settled on 
a homestead in Wexford township. 

In th.e fall of i86q T. A. Ferguson, a 
recent graduate from the law department of 
the university at Ann .Vrbor, having seen a 
notice of the organization of the new county 
of Wexford, made a visit to the county seat 



WEXFORD COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



287 



with a view of getting the. position of prose- 
cuting attorney for the county. He found 
tlie prospect so favorable that he decided 
to remain and at once began building a 
house in the village and before winter set 
in he with his young wife commenced their 
first housekeqjing at the new county seat. 
The county now having a resident lawyer, 
there was no trouble in having the circuit 
judge appoint him as prosecuting attorney 
and he thus became the county's first resi- 
dent prosecuting attorney. Later in the fall 
came H, B. Sturtevant, a brother-in-law of 
Mr. Ferguson, and commenced that business 
career which made him one of the most in- 
fluential residents in the county until his 
very recent removal to Owasso. He was 
not only active and influential in business, 
but was a natural politician and for thirty- 
five years has had an active interest in the 
political affairs of the county. 

Mr. Ferguson and Mr. Sturtevant, com- 
ing fresh from the constant political strife 
which ever liolds sway in old settled com- 
munities, began at once to lay plans for their 
own political advancement, and when the 
time approached for a convention to nomi- 
nafe candidates for the second county elec- 
tion, they had done their work so quietly 
and so well that they secured control of 
the Republican county convention. As 
there were only five townships to send dele- 
gates, the work was not so very difficult. 
In one township the caucus was called to 
order an hour before the time named in the 
notice, delegates elected, and caucus ad- 
journed before the proper time had arrived 
for calling it and before the majority of the 
voters reached the voting place. In another 
town enough Democrats attended and voted 



to out-vote the Republicans who were op- 
posed to a change in the county officers. 

Contesting delegates were elected in the 
towns which were so grossly manipulated, 
but the managers of the scheme knew some- 
thing of the science of politics, while the 
"other fellows" were as green as pumpkins 
in that line. It was therefore an easy matter 
to get the right chairman, and an easy thing 
to have the chairman appoint the right com- 
mittee on credentials, and the contesting del- 
egates were disposed of in short order, and 
the convention did the work laid out for it 
by nominating an entire new set of officers, 
except surveyor and judge of probate. I. 
N. Carpenter, a Democrat, being renomi- 
nated, the reason therefor having been gen- 
erally believed to have been in recognition 
of the help given by the Democrats in the 
caucuses. The officers as nominated by that 
convention were as follows : Sheriff, Jos- 
eph Sturr; clerk and register, H. B. Sturte- 
vant ; treasurer, William Masters ; prose- 
cuting attorney and circuit court commis- 
sioner, r. A. Ferguson; judge of probate, 
I. N. Carpenter; surveyor, R. S. McClain. 
The new treasurer was not selected because 
of his fitness, but because it would be nec- 
essary to have a deputy to do the work, and 
Mr. Ferguson wanted to be deputy. After 
election this was done, and Mr. Ferguson 
in addition to his duties as prosecuting at- 
torney, transacted the entire business of the 
treasurer's office during the term for which 
Mr. Masters was elected. The total vote at 
this second county election was one hunderd 
and ninety-one. 

At the annual meeting of the board of 
supervisors, in October, 1870, surveyed 
township 22, north of range 10. west, was 



238 



WEXFORD COUXTV. MICHIGAN. 



organized under tlie name of Thorp, in hon- 
or of Col. T. J. Thorp, one of its early set- 
tlers. This name was afterwards changed 
to Selma. which it has retained ever since. 
This was tiie first t(nvn organized by the 
board of supervisors and the fiftli in the 
county. Another new township was organ- 
ized a few months later consisting of town 
_'i. north of ranges ii and 12 west, and 
given the name of Henderson, also after 
one of its earliest settlers. 

During the summer of 1870 the frame 
of the court house was put up and enclosed, 
and L. P. Champenois, H. 13. Sturtevant, 
J. H. Wheeler and two or three others 
erected houses in tlie new \illage, and L. J. 
Clarke, whose little store building stood on 
the corner now occupied by E. Gilbert's 
large two-story store, moved his building 
to the lot now occupied by the Sherman 
bank and built a large addition thereto. 

In January, 1870, the first effort looking 
to the organization of a church society was 
made. Presiding Elder Boynton, of the 
Methodist Episcopal church, visited Sher- 
man, accompanied by Rev. Mr. Cayton, a 
Methodist minister living in Grand Trav- 
erse county, and perfected arrangements for 
preacliing services every alternate Sunday, 
which were to lie conducted by Mr. Cayton. 
At first these meetings were held at the home 
of L. P. Champenois, and later at the Ma- 
([ueston hall until the school house was 
built in the fall of 1871, when that was used 
for church juirposes. Soon after Mr. Cay- 
ton entered upon his work the first sacra- 
mental service in We.xford county was held 



at the home of H. B. Sturtevant, the only 
communicants being Mr. Sturtevant, his 
wife Rhoda and T. A. Ferguson. At the 
Methodist Episcopal conference held in the 
fall of 1S70, Rev. A. L. Thurston, who had 
located a homestead in Thorp (now Selma) 
township, was designated as "supply" for 
the church work at Sherman and held regu- 
lar meetings there, unless prevented by the 
inclemency of the weather. His home was 
about sixteen miles from Sherman and it 
was no easy task to cover the distance upon 
such roads or trails as existed at that time, 
especially in the winter months. 

It almost seems like a stretch of the im- 
agination to recall those early religious 
gatherings. There was not a church bell or 
even school house bell to call the people to- 
gether, not a piano, organ or any kind of in- 
strument to assist in the singing, and not 
even a choir to take charge of it. Sometimes 
some one with a "tuning fork" might be 
present to "pitch" the tunes in the proper 
key, but more generally the tunes would be 
started by some one bold enough to take 
the initiatory, often so high that the soprano 
voices could hardly reach the high strains, 
and sometimes necessitating an absolute 
breaking down and starting over again. .And 
yet. through the distance, it seems as if 
there was far more rexerence, more con- 
scientious worship in those primitive gath- 
erings than in the present up-to-date 
cliurches with their upholstered chairs, their 
])i])e-organs. their paid choirs and their 
chimiui'" cluuxii bells. 



CHAPTER V. 



FIRST RAILROAD. 



In the closing days of 1870 tlie "iron 
horse" made its first appearance in Wex- 
ford county, the Grand Rapids & Indiana 
Railroad having completed its line as far 
as Little Clam lake, some six miles north- 
wanl from the southern boundary of the 
county. The original survey contemplated 
having the line pass between Big Clam lake 
and Little Clam lake.* but through the 
efforts of George A. Mitchell, who had pur- 
chased cjuite a large tract of pine timber 
on the east shore of the little lake, and 
whose sagacious eye foresaw the advantages 
of having mills at the eastern end of 
a body of water where the prevailing west- 
erly winds would very materially assist in 
floating timber to them, the railroad com- 
])any was induced to swing eastward from 
its orignal survey and pass around the east 
end of the lake. The advantages that have 
resulted from this change of course can 
hartlly be realized by one not familiar with 
lumbering operations, but it is not too much 
to say that there would have been no city 
of Cadillac in Wexford county if the rail- 



* These lakes have just been re-christened, and the smaller 
one will hereafter be known as Lake Cadillac, and the larger one 
^s Lake Mitchell. 



road had passed, as first intended, between 
the lakes. 

With the advent of railroads came a 
complete change in the base of business for 
the whole county. As soon as regular trains 
could be run the mail route was changed 
and the daily stage coaches, which had been 
running over the old state road, first to 
Cedar Springs, then to Morley, and then 
to Big Rapids, from Traverse City, were 
started on the new route to Clam Lake, as 
it was then called. Merchants began to 
have their goods shipped to the new rail- 
road terminal, and business with Traverse 
City from that day almost entirely ceased. 

During the winter of 1871 fire 
destroyed the saw-mill of J. H. Wheeler, 
causing much inconvenience and delay in 
getting out the material with which to com- 
plete the court house. The work of re- 
building was begun at once and when spring 
opened it was again in running order. 
Another "serious difficulty encountered in 
the building of the court house, as well as 
all matters of public nature, was the slow 
process of getting returns from taxes le\- 
icd Far the larger share of die real estate 
in tlie countv was ownetl bv non-residents. 



240 



WEXFORD COUXT]\ MICHIGAN. 



who had been in the habit of paying their 
taxes at the auditor general's office in Lan- 
sing and who for several years after the 
organization of the county followed the 
same practice. In those days there was 
only a yearly settlement with the state, in- 
stead of quarterly as at present, and so the 
taxes assessed in any given year were re- 
turned to the county treasurer in March of 
the next year, if not paid, and in the Oc- 
tober following the county treasurer would 
have to make a trip to the capital to settle 
with the auditor-general and bring back the 
money that belonged to the county and the 
townships. As a result of this process all 
public improvements were paid for with 
orders drawn on the proper township or 
county funds and the jobber would sell 
them at the stores for whatever price he 
could get. So low had the county's credit 
got before the court house was completed 
that the contractor sold a one thousand dol- 
lar county order for eight hundred dollars 
and had to take half of that amount in 
"store pay." Township and highway or- 
ders were often sold at still greater dis- 
counts. 

During the summer of 1871 the con- 
tinued expansion of the luml)ering interests 
of Manistee had pushed their way up the 
Manistee river until they had invaded Wex- 
ford coimty. Before logs could be floated 
to Manistee it became necessary to cut ofi 
the great number of sweepers (fallen trees 
projecting into the river) and clear away 
the many jams of flood wood reaching en- 
tirely across the river. This required a 
large force of men, with axes and saws, and 
long lines of rope, with heavy two, three 
and four-shieve tackle blocks, and even 



with all the necessary appliances the work 
at times progressed very slowly. 

The county of Missaukee, which had up 
to this time been a part of Wexford coun- 
ty since its organization in 1869, was or- 
ganized into a separate county by the leg- 
islature of 1 87 1, and held its first election 
on the first Monday in April of that year. 
This greatly reduced the aggregate value of 
taxable property in the county, as shown by 
the equalization as fixed by the board of 
supervisors at their annual session in that 
year, the total valuation of the county for 
that year having Ijeen fixed at $498,861.86, 
including $35,826.00 of personal property. 

In the fall of 1871 Mr. Ferguson started 
to remove his home, which occupied the 
present site of the Sherman House, pre- 
paratory to erecting a commodious hotel. 
It was during the very dry time in the fall 
of that year, which witnessed such vast, de- 
structive forest fires in Michigan and Wis- 
consin, as well as the great Chicago fire. 
After the first day's efforts in the work of 
moving the task was but half accomplished, 
and the house was left in the street when 
night came on. About midnight a cry of 
"Fire" awoke the villagers and this house 
was found to be in flames. Forest fires 
were raging not more than one hundred 
rods away, but whether sparks from these 
fires or the hand of an incendiary causetl 
the destruction of this house was never 
known. Many believed it was the latter, 
as Mr. Ferguson, in his capacity of pros- 
ecuting attorney, had in several cases been 
instrumental in causing just punishment to 
be meted out to violators of the prohibitory 
liquor law which was then upon the statute 
books of Michigan, and it was thought that 



WEXFORD COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



241 



tlie Ijuilding was set on fire as an act of re- 
venge, but if so. tlie guilty party was never 
known. 

In November. 1871. Mr. Ferguson com- 
menced the work of liuilfling a liotel. tlie lit- 
tle log hotel — the only hotel then at the 
county seat— not being sufficient to accom- 
modate the growing needs of the public. 
The work was pushed along as rapidly as 
possible, but in those days every foot of 
flooring, ceiling, siding or finishing lumber 
had to be dressed by hand, there being no 
phming-mill nearer than Traverse City, and 
it would cost as much to draw the luml>er 
there and back as it would to hire the work 
done by hand. The hotel was finished some 
time in January. 1872. and E. Gilbert, now 
a prosperous merchant at Sherman, was in- 
stalled as its first landlord. A large school 
house was also put up in the county seat 
town during the fall of 1871 and was ready 
for use in December of that year. Previ- 
ous to this there had been no public school 
in the new village, although a private school 
had been taught a part of the time, Mrs. 
Gilbert and H. B. Sturtevant having at 
different times been in charge as teacher. 

At the annual meeting of the board of 
supervisors in 1871 a resolution was passed 
authorizing the superintendents of poor to 
purchase a poor farm on section 16, in 
what is now Antioch township. This was 
done and the following summer a large 
two-story building was erected in which to 
care for such unfortunates as might be- 
come a county charge. 

In the early da\'s of 1872 there 
came to the county seat town two young 
and energetic men from Ibnvell. Liv- 
ingston county, to see what encourage- 
ment they could get toward the establish- 



ment of a newspaper. Everybody was anx- 
ious to have a newspaper started and it did 
not take long to secure pledges enough to 
warrant the venture, and on the first day 
of May. 1872, the first issue of the Wex- 
ford County Pioneer was printed. The 
publishers were Charles E. Cooper, late ed- 
itor of the Manton Tribune, and A. W. 
Tucker. This was the first newspaper ven- 
ture in the county. 

During the year 1872 three new town- 
ships were organized by the board of su- 
per\isors, \iz : Clam Lake, Cedar Creek 
and Antioch. Quite a village had sprung 
up where now stands the city of Cadillac, 
and it was not long until it became ap- 
parent that an effort would be made to se- 
cure the removal of the county seat from 
Sherman to the new village of Clam Lake. 
The inauguration, development and success 
of this effort will be treated in a separate 
chapter in order to give the details in a 
more connected manner than occasional ref- 
erence thereto with contemporaneous his- 
tory. The court house was completed in 
1872 and also a county jail, thus giving the 
county ample room for its officers and 
courts, its prisoners and its paupers. 

In the spring of 1872 Rev. Jonas Den- 
ton, a Congregational minister, located at 
the county seat and through his efforts a 
Congregational church society was organ- 
ized with the following meml^ership, viz : 
H. I. Devoe and wife, C. L. Northrup and 
wife, A. Anderson and wife and Gifford 
Northrup. Ser\ices were held in the \il- 
lage school house once in two weeks, al- 
ternating with the ]\Iethodist Episco])al 
services. 

The new county had its first gen- 
uine experience with politics in 1872. In 



242 



WEXFORD COUNTY. MICHIGAN. 



tliat year was held tlie first presidential 
election since the organization of the coun- 
ty. That election witnessed probably the 
greatest number of presidential candidates 
in the history of the country. There were 
seven in all, as follows: Gen. U. S. Grant, 
renominated by the Republican party; 
Horace Greeley, nominated by the Lib- 
eral Republicans and endorsed by one wing 
of the Democratic party; Charles O'Con- 
nor, nominated by the "straight-out" Dem- 
ocrats; James R. Black, by the Prohibition- 
ists; W. S. Groesl^eck, by the Revenue Re- 
formers; David Davis, by the Labor Re- 
form party, and Charles Francis Adams, by 
the Anti-Secret Society party. 

During this memorable campaign the 
first political club ever known in Wexford 
county was organized at the county seat. 
As a matter deemed worthy of historical 
preservation, the names of the meml>ers of 
Wexford county's first political club are here 
given as follows: W. J. Austin, L'. P. 
Champenois. E. Gilbert, J. H. Alberts, E. 
S. Carpenter, S. Gasser. Harvey Burt. E. J- 
Copley, N. L. Hanna, J. P. Barney, Jonas 
Denton, Isaac Johnson, Moses Cole, Mar- 
tin Daniels, T. H. Lyman. Charles E. 
Cooper, Charles Fancher, C. McClintock, 
William Cole, A. Finch. William McClin- 
tock, H. J. Carpenter, T. A. Ferguson, 
William Mears, Arthur Morrell, Nathan E. 
Soles, B. Woods, C. L. Northrup, H. B. 
Sturtevant. J. S. Walling, J. L. New1)erry, 
Stephen Snyder, S. C. Worth. J. B. Paul, 
A. E. Smith, George W. Wheeler. James 
Seaton, A. W. Tucker, J. S. York, J. H. 
Wheeler, forty. It was called the Grant 
and \\'ilson Club and of its forty memljers 
at least one-half are still living, and al- 
though a few hrne drifted into other po- 



litical organizations, nearly all of the sur- 
viving members are still true to the party 
whose principles they subscribed to over 
thirty years ago. 

We had few speeches, no torch-light 
processions, no barbecues, no bonfires ; in- 
deed, there was no occasion for such things, 
for Wexford county politics in those days 
was somewhat like the handle to a jug — 
w'onderfully one-sided. The total vote for 
presidential electors w^as three hundred and 
fifty-one, of which two hundred and sev- 
enty-seven were in favor of U. S. Grant 
and seventy-four for Horace Greeley. 
Neither of the other five candidates re- 
ceived a vote in Wexford county. At the 
November election in 1872 the following 
county officers were elected, all Republi- 
cans : Sherifi^. E. D. Abbott ; clerk, and 
register, H. B. Sturtevant : treasurer. F.zra 
Harger; prosecuting attorney and circuit 
court commissioner, S. S. Fallass; judge of 
probate. \\'illiani Mears; snr\eyor. A. K. 
Herrington. 

In this election Hon. T. A. Ferguson 
was elected representative in the state leg- 
islature for the district to which Wex- 
ford county was attached. The bill intro- 
duced by him, and which his efforts secured 
the passage of, which most largely inter- 
ested his constituents and gained for him 
their united praise was the act taxing rail- 
road lands. The railroad company claimed 
that their lands should not be taxed until 
five years after the issuing of the patents 
therefor, and even after the passage of this 
bill introduced by Mr. Ferguson they re- 
fused to pay the first ta.x levied against 
their lands, claiming the law to be unconsti- 
tutional. They took the case to the su- 
preme court, got beaten and thereafter their 



WEXFORD COUXTV. MICHIGAN. 



243 



lands hel[)e(l to pay the burden borne by the 
public for the support of government. 

During the summer of 1872 the Grand 
Rapids & Indiana Railroad was pushed on 
through the county and as a result another 
new village came into existence. It was at 
first called Cedar Creek, after the township 
in which it was located, but later the name 
was changed to Manton. This shortened 
the distance from the county seat to the 
railroad by nearly one-half and enabled the 
making of a round trip in a day instead of 
taking two days, as before. The mail route 
was soon changed and all railroad business 
was thereafter transferred to the new sta- 
tion. 

A second newspaper was started in the 
county in 1872, its first issue appearing 
June 1st. It was given the name of the 
Clam Lake News, and was published by C. 
L. Frazier for a few months, but in No- 
vember of that year its management was 
assumed by S. S. Fallass, the new prose- 
cuting attorney-elect. 

The year 1S72 witnessed the inau- 
i^uration of the stupendous lumbering 
(i])erations, which has at last swept 
away nearly the last vestige of the large 
tracts of pine timber which the county then 
possessed. In addition to the heavy opera- 
tions along the Manistee river, the new vil- 
lage of Clam Lake was a genuine lumbering 
town. As early as June, 1872, there had 
been two saw-mills, each with a capacity of 
twenty-five thousand feet per day, put in 
operation, and a few months later two oth- 
ers were started, with a capacity of forty 
and sixty thousand feet per day, respective- 
ly. These four mills manufactured about 
four million feet of luml)er per month, or 
nearly fifty million per year. 

If one stops a moment to contemplate 



the work of these mills, and those built soon 
afterward at Haring, Long Lake, Bond's 
Mills, McCoy's Siding and on the shores of 
Clam lake, and their constant operation for 
ten. fifteen and twenty years each, he can 
get some idea of the vast wealth in the pine 
forests in Wexford county at that early 
day. 

During the legislative session of 1873 an 
act was passed detaching the tow'nship of 
Cleon from Manistee county and attach- 
ing it to Wexford county. The act was 
thought to be unconstitutional, as it changed 
the boundaries of legislative and judicial 
districts in effect, though not specifically 
providing for such changes, consequently it 
had to be re-enacted at the next session of 
the legislature. This town remained a part 
of Wexford county until the year 1881, 
when, by act of the legislature, it was set 
back into Manistee county. While it re- 
mained in Wexford county, Alonzo Chubb, 
one of its most prominent citizens, was 
elected judge of probate for Wexford coun- 
ty and served a four-year term. 

Two new townships were organized by 
the legislature of 1873, viz: Haring and 
Greenwood, the former consisting of town- 
ship 22 north of range 9 west, and the lat- 
ter of town 24 north of ranges 9 and 10 
west, making thirteen townships in the coun- 
ty. The first agricultural society in the coun- 
ty was organized in October, 1873, with 
Alonzo Chubb as president ; A. M. Lamb, of 
Clam Lake. T. A. Ferguson, of Hanover, 
and Warren Seaman, of Cedar Creek, vice- 
presidents ; George Manton, of Colfax, as 
secretary, and C. J. Rlankletow. of Selma, 
as treasurer. 

Rev. R. Rideoff succeeded Mr. Denton 
as pastor of the Congregational church at 
Sherman in April, 1873, '^"'i through his 



244 



WEXFORD COUNTY. MICHIGAN. 



efforts the society built a churcli building- 
(luring the summer, which was dedicated 
October 1 1 of that year. This was the first 
cliurch Iniilding- erected at the county seat 
and the second in the county, the Methodist 
Episcopal society of Clam Lake having got- 
ten their church edifice in condition for oc- 
cupancy in July of that year. 



As a result of the taxation of the rail- 
roa<l company's lands, the aggregate \alu- 
ation of the county, as equalized by the 
board of supervisors in Octolier. 1873. was 
$1,423,416.63. greatly reducing the rate of 
taxation and therel)y relieving a part of the 
burden which had hitherto l>een borne ])y 
the people of the county. 



CHAPTER VI. 



WOMAN SUFFRAGE 



-STATE CENSUS—COUNTY ELECTIONS- 
BEAR TRAPPING. 



To show tliat Wexford county was 
still quite a wilderness in 1874, two local 
trappers, by the name of Walter and Jesse 
Mesick, caught twenty-four bears in the 
spring of that year, besides the capture of 
several others by other resitlents of the 
county. Deer were also very numerous and 
many a settler saved a considerable portion 
of his meat bill by eating venison ; in fact, 
many of them were without the necessary 
means to purchase meat, and wild meat was 
all they had. Many a saddle of venison 
was left at the door of needy settlers by the 
Mesick brothers, with no thought of re- 
ward. 

it must I)e borne in mind that the early 
settlers in this county, as in all new coun- 
ties, were of limited means, and by the time 
they had paid for moving their families and 
household goods thirty to fifty miles to their 



homesteads and had gotten u]) a little house 
to shelter them, their money in manv in- 
stances was about exhausted. One of to- 
day's prosperous men in Wexford county 
had to work out by day's work to earn the 
money to pay the freight on his goods aft- 
er their arrival at Traverse City. It was no 
uncommon occurrence that people would 
sometimes live for days and weeks upon 
potatoes and salt. Even leeks were resorted 
to as an article of diet by some, and there 
are merchants and ex-postmasters still fix- 
ing in the county who can well remember 
the odor brought into their places of busi- 
ness by those who resorted to this produc- 
tion of nature to eke out their scanty supply 
of food. It may be said that these men 
might have gone out and worked for others 
and earned enough to have lived more com- 
fortably, but let any such imagine a man 



WEXFORD COUNTY. MICHIGAN. 



245 



witli a family going twenty-iive miles from 
tiie nearest trading point, throngh a dense 
forest, and starting in to make a home. No 
team, no cow, nothing Init his hands with 
which to fell and clear away the monarchs 
of the forest and erect a log house to live in. 
His neighhors were few and, for the most 
part, in like circumstances as himself. 
When such conditions are realized, one can 
see that the result must have heen privation. 
Of course these pioneers had to work out 
some of the time, but they had the courage 
and fortitude to suffer privation for a time, 
that they might the sooner be in a position 
to raise the necessaries of life upon their 
own land. 

The census of 1874 showed a popula- 
tion of thirty-one hundred and twenty-five, 
as compared with six hundred and seventy 
in 1870, a gain of over four hundred and 
fifty per cent. This is the most rapid 
growth in the history of the county and was 
the direct result of the building of the 
Grand Rapids & Indiana Railroad and the 
advent of newspapers in the county. Many 
a settler was induced to come to the coun- 
ty from reading about it in the papers pub- 
lished in the county. 

The legislature of 1873 passed a resolu- 
tion submitting to the people a constitu- 
tional amendment granting to women the 
right of suffrage, the vote on its adoption 
to be taken at the general election in No- 
vember, 1874. There was an animated dis- 
cussion of the question in the county dur- 
ing' the summer, but of course the amend- 
ment was defeated. The public mind was 
not ripe for such a movement at that early 
date. It might not Ije amiss to reproduce a 
prediction made by "Zelma," a correspond- 
ent of -the Wexford County Pioneer dur- 



ing that canvass: "But with all the oppo- 
sition men can offer, this measure will be- 
come a law all over the United States. 
'Tis just as certain to be as the sun is to rise. 
It will probably be years before it becomes 
general, but, like the eels, they'll like it when 
they get used to it." This prophecy of near- 
ly thirty years ago has, in part, been ful- 
filled already, and who shall say the time 
will not come when it will be true entirely? 

The township of Liberty was organized 
by the board of supervisors in October, 
1874, making fourteen organized townships 
in the county. The county campaign of 
1874 was really the first hotly contested one 
hail in the county. Both parties put up 
strong tickets, and a vigorous fight was 
made by each. The opposing tickets were 
as follows : Sheriff, J. Shackleton, Repub- 
lican, J. E. Culver, Democrat ; treasur- 
er, E. Harger, Rep., I. H..]\Taqueston, Dem. ; 
clerk and register. H. B. Sturtevant, Rep. : 
clerk, E. Shay, Dem. ; register, I. N. 
Carpenter, Dem. ; prosecuting attorney and 
circuit court commissioner, D. A. Rice, 
Rep., E. F. Sawyer, Dem. ; surveyor, C. J. 
Mankleton, Rep., S. H. Beardsley, Dem. : 
superintendent of schools, A. K. Harring- 
ton, Rep., William L. Tilden, Dem.; coro- 
ners, H. N. Green and George Roth, Reps., 
H. B. Wilcox and William E. Dean, Dems. 

The Republicans elected their entire 
ticket except the surveyor, though some of 
the majorities were quite small. Sheriff 
Shackleton had 226 majority ; H. B. Sturt- 
evant had 1 13 majority for clerk and 80 for 
register; E. Harger had 22^ majority for 
treasurer; S. H. Beardsley (Dem.). 39 ma- 
jority for surveyor; D. .\. Rice had 483 
majority for prosecuting attorney, and cir- 
cuit court commissioner, Mr. Sawyer having 



246 



WEXFORD COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



withdrawn from the contest; A. K. Har- 
rington had 227) majority for superintend- 
ent of schools ; and H. N. Green and George 
l^oth had 214 and 8, respectively, for cor- 
oners. 

Hon. T. A. Ferguson was renominated 
for representative in tlie state legislature, 
his ojjponent being a Mr. Holbrook, of 
Clam Lake. Owing to the fact that Mr. 
Ferguson in his first term had secured the 
passage of the bill annexing Cleon to Wex- 
ford county, and the further fact that it was 
thought to be necessary to do the work over 
again to make it entirely legal, and also to 
the fact that the people of Clam Lake did 
not want the town to remain in \\'e.xford 
county, as it tended to prevent the removal 
of the county seat to that village, the Clam 
Lake News, a Republican journal, espoused 
the candidacy of Mr. Holbrook. the nomi- 
nee of the Democratic party, and did all in 
its power to secure his election. Notwith- 
standing this, Mr. Ferguson was elected by 
nearly five hundred majority in the district. 

The first agricultural fair in Wexford 
county was held in October, 1874. A very 
good display was made in the various de- 
partments, but, owing to the newness of the 
country, the only fruit shown was a plate of 
grapes grown by H. J. Carpenter. C. L. 
Northrup, one of the early settlers in the 
county, having taken up the study of the 
law in the office of T. A. Ferguson, was ad- 
mittetl to the bar in the summer of 1874 and 
commenced practicing with Mr. Ferguson, 
the name of the new firm being Ferguson & 
Nortrup. 

.\s previously stated, the Grand Rap- 
ids & Indiana Railroad Company took the 
case of the taxation of their lands to the su- 
preme court, and in March, 1875. a decision 



was' reached upholding the law and requir- 
ing the company to pay taxes that had been 
assessed aginst its lands. As a result of this 
decision, there was paid into the treasury 
of Wexford county in the spring of 1875 
the sum of $33,207.08, which should have 
been paid during the two preceding years. 
.\ large portion of the money — in fact, near- 
ly all of it— went back to the townships, 
consequently the latter were enabled to make 
great improvements in roads and school 
houses and to pay up indebtedness caused 
by the refusal of the railroad company to 
pay their ta.xes when they were due. 

At the spring election in 1875 Harrison 
H. Wheeler was elected judge of the cir- 
cuit to which Wexford county belonged, 
over S. W. Fowler, of Manistee, his Dem- 
ocratic opponent. Judge Wheeler had previ- 
ously served the circuit some time, having 
been appointed to fill the vacancy caused 
by the resignation of Judge White. So well 
was Judge Wheeler liked that he received 
almost the solid vote of Wexford county 
and in several townships in the county there 
was not a vote cast for his opponent. 

In those days there was no limit to the 
number of special meetings the board of 
supervisors could have during a year, and 
such meetings were sometimes \ery fre- 
quent. To such an extent were these special 
meetings inchilged in that it came to be re- 
marked, when the notice of a special meet- 
ing was seen, "It must be that the super- 
visors are getting out of pork again." Two 
of these special sessions of the lx)ard were 
held during the summer of 1875. at lx)th 
of which a petition for the organization of a 
township, to be called the township of Sum- 
mit, was presented, .\ction on these i)eti- 
tions was frustrated at lx)th of these meet- 



IJ-EXFORD COUNTY. MICHIGAN. 



247 



iiigs, principally because of the bearing the 
organization of this town would have on the 
county seat question, but at the annual ses- 
sion of the board the matter was again 
brought up under a new petition, asking 
that the same territory be organized into a 
township to be called Boon. This effort 
was successful and another township was 
added to the roll of townships in the 
county. 

The Colorado potato beetle, a few spec- 
imens of which hail been noticed in 1874, 
became quite numerous in 1875. Many 
ways of destroying them were suggested 
and tried, but nothing except the poison 
method succeeded. Much was said at the 
time against the use of paris green, it be- 
ing claimed that the plant would absorb the 
poison and convey it to the tubers and thus 
injure those who ate them, but experience 
has proved the fallacy of such reasoning. 
Much was written about the new pest, and 
the general Ijelief was that it would not re- 
main long, but pass away like the locusts. 
Subsequent experience, however. has 
shown this little beetle to have the great- 
est staying qualities of anything known to 
the nineteenth century. It seems a little 
strange that this destructive beetle should 
have remained in its native haunts and let 
potatoes grow for two or three hundred 
years unmolested, and then sucklenly swoop 
down upon the whole land in numbers suf- 
ficient to destroy the entire crop, if let alone. 
Perhaps the rapaciousness of its appetite 
can be partially accounted for by these long 
years of waiting for its favorite dish of 1X3- 
tatoes. 

The most destructive June frost ever ex- 
perienced in the count)- occurred on June 
12, 1875. Winter wheat and rye had 



headed out and were thus ruined by the 
frost. A few settlers tried the experiment 
of mowing down the growth already made, 
and those who did so were rewarded with 
a second growth, which yielded ten or 
twelve bushels to the acre, but the fields 
that were left uncut proved almost an utter 
failure. The frost was so severe that it 
killed the new growth on the beech tree 
branches and the leaves as well. It did no 
injury to fruit, for the very good reason 
that there had been no fruit trees planted 
long enough to bud or blossom. The usual 
early snow falls did not occur in the fall 
of 1875 and the year closed with the mild- 
est weather for the season ever before 
known since the first settlement of the coun- 
ty. Games of base ball were played the 
first day of the year 1876 in Sherman, and 
it was not until near the close of January 
that sufiicient snow fell to make g(X)d 
sleighing. 

An effort was made early in 1876 to 
organize a company to be known as The 
Manistee River Navigation Company, with 
a capital stock of fifty thousand dollars, the 
object being to put a boat on the river to 
run between Manistee and Sherman, but the 
project was abandoned as sufficient sub- 
scription for stock could not be secured. 

The first mowing machine brought into 
Wexford county was purchased by Jerome 
Hartley in the summer of 1876. Previous 
to this time all hay and grain raised in the 
county had been cut with the scythe and 
the cradle. At the election of November, 
1876, the county cast nine hundred and 
thirty-eight votes for president, six hun- 
dred and eighteen for Hayes and Wheeler, 
three hundred and eighteen for Tilden and 
Hendricks, one for Peter Cooper (Green- 



248 



WEXFORD COUXTY, MICHIGAX. 



back) and one for the Prohibition candi- 
date. The new county officers were all Re- 
I)ublican, thongh one of them, Alonzo 
Chubb, judge of probate, was elected on an 
"independent" ticket, defeating the Repub- 
lican nominee for that office. Rev. .\. L. 
Thurston. 

As a general, rather than a local, his- 
toric fact, it might lie well to mention the 
first effort toward the resumption of specie 
payment by the government. Congress had 
provided for the coinage of twenty-six mil- 
lions of silver bullion into minor coins with 
w'hich to redeem the fractional paper cur- 
rency^ that had served the people for 
"change" since 1863. It was a novel thing 
to many of the younger people to see "hard" 
money instead of "soft" money in circula- 
tion, as no one under eighteen years of age 
could remember to have seen the like before. 
It was not lung until the great volume of 
"shin ])lastcrs" had entirely disappeared and 
their ])lace hlled by the minor silver coins. 

This was a wonderful help in paving 
the way for a complete resumption of specie 
payment, which was brought alx)ut only a 
few years later. The legislature of 1877 
passed a law granting a city charter to the 
village of Clam Lake, though under a new 
name, Cadillac. It is quite doubtbul if this 
little town would have thought of being 
made a city, much less to change its name, 
had it not been for its desire to liecome the 
county seat. A bill of this kind would have 
met with strenuous objections from other 
sections of the county had not its origin and 
pathway through the legislature been 
shielded by a new and mysterious name. 
So completely did this name hide the object 
of the bill that no one e.xcept those on the 
"inside" were aware of the object sought 



until it had passed both houses and been 
signed by the governor. 

This act provided for dividing the city 
into three wards and giving to each ward 
a supervisor, who, of course, was a member 
of the board of supervisors, thus giving to 
the townshij) of Clam Lake a representa- 
tion of four on the board, one from the town 
and three from the city, that was within 
the limits of the to\m, except a little strip 
that was taken from the township of Rar- 
ing. There were only about six or seven 
hundred people in the new city, the school 
census for the previous year showing but 
three hundred and fifty children of school 
age in the entire township of Clam Lake, 
including the village . The number of 
school children in the other townships of 
the county at that time was as follows : 
Antioch, 90; Cedar Creek, 119; Cherry 
Grove, 25 ; Cleon, 23 ; Colfax, 92 : Green- 
wood. 8; Hano\er, 58; Haring, 10: Hen- 
derson, 4; Lilxjrty, 13; Selma, 51; Spring- 
ville, 20; Wexford, 100; total for the coun- 
ty, 958. Another new township by the 
name of Sherman, was organized in 1877, 
consisting of section i in town 23. north of 
range 12 west, section 6 in town 23, north 
of range 1 1 west, section 31 in town 24, 
north of range 1 1 west, and section 36 in 
town 24, north of range 12 west. 

During the latter part of the year 1877 
a company was organized with the object 
in view of building a narrow gauge rail- 
road from Sherman to Cadillac. A pre- 
liminary surxey was made of the projxised 
road and the route pronounced feasible, but 
the promoters were not able to interest cap- 
italists with sufficient means to warrant the 
building of the road and nothing further 
was ever done in the matter. 



CHAPTER VII. 



THE COUNTY SEAT— EFFORTS TO SECURE ITS REMOVAL FROM SHER- 
MAN—SCHEMES TO PREVENT REMOVAL— FINAL RESULT. 



The first effort made for the removal of 
tlie county seat from Sherman was at the 
annual meeting of the board of supervisors 
in 1872. Mr. Hollister, supervisor from 
Clam Lake township, introduced the reso- 
lution, and the place designated for the pro- 
posed location was the village of Clam 
Lake. This resolution was defeated by a 
vote of four yeas to five nays. Not daunted 
by this defeat, Mr. Hollister renewed his 
efforts at the January meeting of the board 
in 1873. but the result was more disastrous 
than before, there being but three votes for 
the resolution to six against. During the 
legislatixe session of 1873 the township of 
Cleon, as before stated, was attached to 
Wexford county, which was a purely coun- 
ty-seat move. The legislature had some 
scruples against taking this town away 
from Manistee county and placing it in 
Wexford county, and it was necessary to 
secure a petition signed by residents of 
Manistee county, outside of the township 
of Cleon, as well as those in that township, 
who favored the proposition. According- 
ly a messenger was sent to Manistee vil- 
lage with a properly drawn petition and a 



long list of names was secured. To show 
how easily one can get names signed to al- 
most any kind of a petition, this messenger 
reported that he would go ino a saloon, call 
up all hands for a drink, pull out his petition, 
and nine out of ten would sign it without 
reading it or hearing it read. To look at 
the petition when it came back one would 
think that every last resident of Manistee 
wanted Cleon to go, and would almost be 
willing to pay something if she would go. 
W^ith petitions by the yard from Wex- 
ford county, the names upon which were 
too often fictitious, and such a formidable 
petition from Manistee county, it was not 
very hard to convince the legislature that 
Wexford county ought to have Cleon. One 
of the strong arguments used was the de- 
scription of an almost impenetrable swamp 
adjoining Cleon on the west and south 
which made it almost impossible to get to 
Manistee, twenty-five miles away, while the 
distance to Sherman, the county seat of 
Wexford county, was only six to eight 
miles, with- comparatively good roads. The 
arguments and petitions did their work and 
Cleon come into Wexford county and re- 



250 



WEXFORD COUXTV, MICHIGAN. 



mained with us until 1881. With five su- 
pervisors tliat could be depended upon to 
vote against removal, the question was not 
again brought before the board of supervis- 
ors until June. 1876, although it frequently 
cropped out in the newspapers and once 
again in the legislature, in 1875, when the 
Cleon bill liad 10 be re-enacted, owing to the 
fact that the first l)iil was thought to be un- 
constitutional. 

On the 14th of June, 1876, two resolu- 
tions for removal were introduced at a 
special meeting of the board of supervisors, 
one by Warren Seaman, of Cedar Creek 
township, for removal to Manton village, 
which had by this time become an aspirant 
for county-seat honors, and the other by 
William Kelley, of Clam Lake township, to 
remove to the village of Clam Lake. On 
each of these resolutions the votes stood, 
yeas, eight, and nays, eight. 

.\t a special meeting of the board held 
January 11, 1877, a resolution was intro- 
duced ])y R. D. Cuddeback, supervisor of 
Haring township, to remove the county seat 
to section 5, in town 23, north of range 9 
west, the vote on wliich resolution was six 
yeas and nine nays. 

When it became known, some time in 
March. 1877, that the village of Clam Lake 
had been transformed into a city under the 
name of Cadillac, and that after the first 
Monday in April she would have three 
members on the board of supervisors, steps 
were at once taken to checkmate this new 
scheme for the removal of the county seat. 
I'lans were devised for the organization of 
four new townships in the northern part of 
tlie county, in order to hold the balance of 
power on the board of supervisors. One of 
these new townships was to consist of that 



part of Cedar Creek township lying on the 
west side of the Grand Rapids & Indiana 
Railroad, and was to be called Westside. 
.\nother was to consist of the north half of 
the township of Colfax and to be called 
Wheatland. The third was to consist of 
town 22, north of range 12 west, t(^gether 
with the southern tier of sections from town 
23, north of range 12 west, which were put 
in. in order to have voters enough to hold 
the offices, and was to be christened Dover, 
and the fourth was the township of Sher- 
man, heretofore described. In order to get 
these towns organized and officers elected in 
time to prevent any mischief which might 
be done by the addition of the three new 
supervisors from the city of Cadillac, a 
special meeting of the board was called for 
March 30th. For fear that dilatory- tactics 
would be resorted to in this work, a rule 
was adopted as soon as the board was called 
to order, which provided that no member 
should speak more than once on any sub- 
ject without the consent of the board and 
should not have more than fifteen minutes 
time without such consent. 

L'nder this "gag rule" the resolutions 
organizing these towns were passed. The 
board took a recess until seven o'clock in 
the evening, and the supervisors from the 
northeast part of the county requested a 
conference at the house of H. B. Sturte- 
\ant with the supervisors from the north- 
west part of the county before the Iward 
should re-assemble. The object of this con- 
ference was kept an entire secret until all 
were present, when the subject of a vote to 
remo\e the county seat to Manton was 
broached. The writer was a member of that 
conference, and when this proposition was 
made the Sherman supervisors, as those 



WEXFORD COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



251 



from the northwest part of the county were 
designated, protested and argued that the 
question of removal had not been consid- 
ered in the preliminary work of making 
tiiese four towns, only so far as it would 
offset the ad\antage that Cadillac had 
gained by the city charter. The supervisors 
from Manton were obstinate and when the 
Sherman supervisors would not yield, they 
declared that they would have the resolu- 
tions organizing the new towns reconsid- 
ered if they could not secure the passage of 
a resolution to remove the county seat to 
Manton. This ojien threat was too much 
for the Sherman suj^ervisors and they 
"bolted" the conference. 

When the evening session of the board 
con\-ened the Manton members, true to their 
threat, moved to reconsider one after an- 
otlier of these organization resolutions and 
lay them upon the table, the Cadillac su- 
per\isors being only too glad to assist in 
this work. A halt was called when the 
Sherman resolution was reached and then 
it began to dawn upon the members from 
Manton that they were playing with dan- 
gerous weapons, and an effort was made to 
take these resolutions from the table, but a 
motion was immediately made to adjourn, 
and, in explaining his vote on this motion, 
S. S. Fallass, of Clam Lake, took the floor 
and made a lengthy speech, reading copi- 
ous extracts from the statutes of the state 
and the constitution to consume time. He 
was called to order time and again, but the 
chairman ruled that he was not out of or- 
der, and when an appeal was taken and a 
majority voted against the ruling of the 
chair, the chairman boldly asserted that it 
took a two-thirds vote to overrule the de- 



cision of the chair, and thus Mr. Fallass was 
allowed to continue his random, time-con- 
suming speech, and openly declared he 
would talk the session into Sunday before 
he would yield the floor for any motion ex- 
cept to adjourn. He even went so far as to 
send over to the hotel about ten o'clock for 
a lunch and ate his lunch during the inter- 
vals in his speech, until finally the board, 
becoming convinced that they were power- 
less to do business under the decision of the 
chair, adjourned, leaving the one township 
of Shemian saved out of the wreck. This 
was practically the turning point in the 
county-seat struggle, for had the resolu- 
tions organizing these other towns re- 
mained as originally passed, Sherman 
would have held the key to the county-seat 
situation and would doubtless still have re- 
tained the county seat. The supervisor 
from the new township of Sherman was, 
for a long time, denied a seat upon the 
board of supervisors, through another ar- 
bitrary act of the clerk in refusing to call 
his name, it being claimed that the organi- 
zation of the town was illegal. The matter 
was taken to the courts, where the organiza- 
tion was sustained, after which the super- 
visor was accorded his rights upon the 
board. 

At this March meeting of the board 
of supervisors another resolution for the re- 
moval of the county seat was offered, this 
time to section 3.?, in Colfax township. 
This point was very nearly the geograph- 
ical center of the county and on the shore of 
Dayhuff lake, quite a pretty sheet of water 
at that time, but which, through the clear- 
ing up of the surrounding lands, is gradu- 
ally drying up. This resolution was tabled. 



252 



WEXFORD COUNTY. MICHIGAN. 



pending the passage of the resohitions to 
organize the new townships and, hke those 
resolutions, laid on the table and died. 

The broaching of this subject of mov- 
ing the county seat to the center of the 
county was to form a combination to secure 
all the votes possible in favor of removal 
to some place. The insincerity of the talk 
of the supervisors about the county seat go- 
ing to the center of the county, where it 
would be as far from a railroad as it was 
from Sherman to the railroad, was so trans- 
parent that it deceived no one, although it 
might have had some little influence occa- 
sionally with the supervisor of that town, 
Colfax. However we find that on the i6th 
day of April, 1877, a resolution was offered 
by S. S. Fallass, supervisor of the second 
ward of Cadillac, to remove the county seat 
to this same point on the Dayhuff lake. 
This resolution was killed on a tie vote, 
nine to nine, as was a similar resolution of- 
fered by R. S. McClain on May 31. 1877. 
On this last-named date Mr. Fallass offered 
a resolution of removal to Cadillac, which 
received ten yeas to eight nays, but not hav- 
ing the requisite two-thirds of the board, as 
provided for in the statutes. On neither of 
these questions was the supervisor from 
Sherman allowed to vote, although pres- 
ent at every meeting of the board. June 
I, 1877, ^^^- Fallass again offered a reso- 
lution of removal to the center of the coun- 
ty, which, like all its predecessors, failed to 
pass, the vote being nine to nine. June 12, 
1877, W. r. Smith, supervisor of Cedar 
Creek township, oft'ered a resolution to re- 
move the county seat to the village of Man- 
ton, but it was killed on a tie vote, nine to 
nine. The same day William Kelley, of 
Cadillac, introduced a resolution to re- 



move the county seat to Cadillac, but there 
is no record of a vote being taken on this 
resolution. 

The matter was then allowed to rest un- 
til the January meeting in 1878. There 
were three resolutions for removal offered 
at this meeting, one by S. S. Fallass, to re- 
move the county seat to Cadillac, one by 
Supervisor Dayhuff, to remove to the cen- 
ter of the county, and one by H. C. Mc- 
Farlan, supervisor of Cedar Creek, to re- 
move to Manton. Mr. Dayhuff's resolution 
was lost, the vote standing ten yeas and nine 
nays. The next vote was upon the resolu- 
tion to remove to Manton and this received 
the necessary two-thirds of the votes, the 
result being thirteen yeas to six nays. This 
resolution having been adopted, of course 
the one introduced by Mr. Fallass was not 
voted upon. The resolution to remove the 
county seat to Manton provided that the 
popular vote should be on the first Monday 
in April, 1879, and the Manton people were 
quite elated at the prospect of that town be- 
ing the seat of justice for the county, for 
they confidently believed that the proposi- 
tion would be ratified by the people, but 
when the vote upon the question was can- 
vassed there proved to be only two hun- 
dred and ninety for removal and nine hun- 
dred and seventy-one against, so the coun- 
ty seat still remained at Sherman. 

The sixteenth resolution for removal 
was offered March 5, 1880, by S. S. Fallass, 
the place designated in the resolution be- 
ing at the center of the county, but his res- 
olution was defeated by a vote of seven yeas 
to ten nays. By this time the Cadillac side 
of the fight, under the leadership of Col. 
T. J. Thorp, who was then county clerk 
I and register of deeds, came to the conclu- 



py EX FORD COUNTY. MICHIGAN. 



253 



sion tliat it would be better to get the coun- 
ty seat away from Sherman, even if it 
went to Man ton, and trust to the future to 
get it to Cadillac. They were aware of the 
fact that there was a tacit understanding 
between the Manton and Sherman interests 
whereby Sherman would have to favor 
Manton whenever a resolution favoring the 
latter place came before the board, as it was 
feared that otherwise Manton would join 
hands with Cadillac to spite Sherman. 

Banking on these conditions, they said 
to Manton, "You introduce another reso- 
lution to remove the county seat to Manton, 
and test the good faith of the Sherman 
people, and you will find that we will be as 
loyal to you as Sherman will." According- 
ly, on tlie 13th of October, 1881, Supervisor 
McFarlan, of Cedar Creek, introduced the 
seventeenth resolution for the removal of 
the county seat, and designated the village 
of Manton as the proposed new location. 
When the roll was called upon the question 
of adopting the resolution it was found that 
sixteen supervisors had voted in the affirm- 
ative and only two in the negative. 

Many thought that while the supervis- 
ors from the city of Cadillac and surround- 
ing towns had \-oted that the county seat 
should go to Mant(in, their constituents 
would not do likewise when called upon to 
ratify or reject the proposition, but this 
time, as before stated, the people of Cadillac 
had determined to get the prize cm the wing 
and try and prevent it from getting much 
of a foothold until it was landed in Cadillac. 
Sherman, too, must needs give a good vote 
in favor of Manton, else Manton. failing 
to get it, would accuse Sherman of bad 
faith, and these two localities would then 
be at odds. Therefore it is not surprising 



that a heavy vote in favor of Manton was 
polled. Had the people of Sherman known 
just what the plans of the Cadillac people 
were, the vote would have been somewhat 
different, but the result showed that if 
every vote in the northwest part of the coun- 
ty had been cast against removal, it would 
still have carried by a large majority, as 
Manton and Cadillac gave practically a sol- 
id vote in favor of the proposition. The 
total vote on this question was twelve hun- 
dred and fifty-five, of which eleven hundred 
and nine were in favor of removal and one 
hundred and forty-six against. Thus, aft- 
er a struggle of nearly nine years, Sherman 
at last had to part with the county seat. 

The agitation was not to stop here, how- 
ever, and even before the county property 
had been conveyed to its new home, Mr. 
Fallass. a supervisor from Cadillac, on the 
27th day of April, 1881, introduced the 
eighteenth resolution on this subject, which 
was referred to the committee on towns and 
counties and never reported out. During 
the summer of 1881 the people of Cadillac, 
profiting by the scheme resorted to by the 
northern part of the county. — splitting up 
townships for the purpose of increasing the 
membership of the board of supervisors, — 
fiirmnlated a plan to organize six new town- 
ships. To carry out this plan, a special 
meeting of the board was called in August, 
at which the petitions for organizing these 
six townships were presented and granted 
by the board. It should be here stated that 
Henry F. May, of Cadillac, was elected as 
representative to the state legislature in 
1880 and during the session of that body, 
in the winter of 1881, succeeded in getting 
a bill passed setting Cleon back into Manis- 
tee countv. and another disorganizing: the 



254 



WEXFORD COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



townsliip of Sherman. Before these bills 
took effect and while a majority of the 
board of supervisors were opposed to the 
county seat going to Cadillac, the township 
of Concord was organized, consisting of the 
east half of the former township of Sher- 
man and section 5, in Antioch, and section 
32, in Hanover. This organization was de- 
clared by the courts to be illegal, and thus 
the number of supervisors opposed to an- 
other remo\-al of the county seat was di- 
minished by two, giving the Cadillac inter- 
ests a majority of the board, but not the 
requisite two-thirds to secure the long- 
wished-for prize. The object in organiz- 
ing these six new townships was to secure 
this two-thirds vote. Of these six town- 
ships, five of them were made by splitting 
up the township of Haring, which was then 
the scene of active lumliering operations, 
having a saw-mill at Haring station, an- 
other at McCoy's siding, another at Bond's 
Mills and still another at Long Lake. These 
five townships were named Copley. Kysor, 
Garfield, Lindon and Long Lake. The 
sixth new town was matle from the north 
half of Cherry Grove and w'as called Nel- 
son. The vote on the organization of these 
townships is recorded as ten yeas and one 
nay, there being nothing to show whether 
the rest of the boanl of supervisors were 
present or not. 

The first election for these new town- 
ships was fixed for the first Monday in Feb- 
ruary, 1882, and a set of township officers 
Avas at that time duly elected for each of 
them. Another special meeting of the 
board of suijervisors was called for Febru- 
ary 14th, at which all of these new town- 
ships were represented on the board. The 
right of these representati\es from the new 



townships to seats on the board was ques- 
tioned and the matter was referred to a 
speciaj committee for investigation. Pend- 
ing the report of this committee. Supervis- 
or J. R. Bishop, of the second ward of Cad- 
illac, offered the nineteenth and final reso- 
lution, to date, for the removal of the coun- 
ty seat from Manton to Cadillac. Without 
the six new townships, the Cadillac con- 
tingent must gain one vote from the oppo- 
sition in order to have this resolution 
adopted, while with the new towns they had 
votes to spare. What inducements were 
held out to gain this one vote from the 
enemy was not, and perhaps never will be, 
known, but the vote on the resolution was 
taken before the report of the committee 
alx)ve referred to was made, and it dis- 
closed a startling fact to the people of Man- 
ton. The supervisor from Liberty, a town- 
ship adjoining that in which Manton vil- 
lage was located, had voted for the resolu- 
tion, giving it exactly the two-thirds re- 
cjuired for its passage — twelve yeas and 
six nays. The object sought in the organi- 
zation of the six new townships having been 
accomplished without their actual partici- 
pation therein, the committee reported that 
they found the organization of the new 
townships "fatally defective, and that the 
said townships have no legal existence, and 
that to avoid all complications that might 
otherwise arise, we recommend that the su- 
pervisors froin the said townships be de- 
clared not entitled to seats on this board." 
This report was adopted and thus the mush- 
room townships of a few months' growth 
died a natural death, without a pang or a 
struggle. They had wrought the desired 
work, howe\'er, by showing what could be 
done, and thus inriuencinq: one man to vote 



WEXFORD COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



255 



against his constituents, against the inter- 
ests of his section of the county, and prob- 
ably against his own conscience. 

The question of removal, having thus 
been placed before the people again to be 
voted upon, at the ensuing April election, 
was carried by a vote of thirteen hundred 
and sixty-three for removal to six hundred 
and thirty-six against, and at daybreak the 
morning after the vote was taken the peo- 
ple of Manton were aroused by the toot of 
a special train which had come up from 
Cadillac for the county property. They ral- 
lied out sufficient force to baffle for the time 
being the efforts to take the county's 
property on board the cars, and the train 
went back to Cadillac with only part of its 
object carried out. .V call was made for 
volunteers to go back to Manton for the rest 
of the public property, which was responded 
to by alx)ut one hundred and fifty mill men 
and campmen, many of them taking along 
a bottle or two of "fire water," and by the 
time they reached Manton tlrey were ready 
for any undertaking. Under such circum- 
stances it is quite needless to say that be- 
fore noon all the county property was safe- 
ly housed in Cadillac. 

The reason for this unseemly haste 
in taking the county property to Cadillac 
was to prevent the delay and expense of in- 
junction proceedings, which had been 
threatened in case the popular vote was in 
favor of Cadillac. Such proceedings would 
have been dragged out at as great a length 
as possible to enable Manton to hold on to 
the prize that much longer, even if she had 
to let it slip in the end. This brought the 
county seat warfare to a final end. At times 
it had been very bitter, and its inner history 
would reveal a vast deal more of corruption 



than it is worth while here to portray. One 
or two incidents will suffice to show to what 
lengths such things will sometimes run. 
There were several times in the history of 
this struggle when the change of one vote 
would mean the passage of a resolution for 
removal. On one of these occasions one 
supervisor had been approached and offered 
ten dollars to vote for a resolution to remove 
the county seat to Clam Lake. He told the 
party he would do it, and received the 
money, but when his name was called to 
vote upon the resolution he revealed the 
whole transaction, told who had given him 
the money, and then voted against the reso- 
lution. There was much confusion among 
the friends of removal at this turn in affairs 
and considerable talk of arrests for at- 
tempted bribery, but nothing was done in 
the matter. 

At another time three hundred dollars 
was paid to a supervisor living near Sher- 
man and an agreement made to buy his 
farm at a good price and give him a house 
and lot in Clam Lake, in consideration for 
which he was to vote for a resolution to re- 
move the county seat to that village. He 
was to be furnished protection from violence 
from the people of Sherman, whom he 
woultl thus have betrayed and whose wrath 
he expected the act would have merited, and 
would undoubtedly have voted for the reso- 
lution when the board met had he not, in an 
unguarded moment, made a confidant of a 
fellow workman, who laid the matter before 
H. B. Sturtevant, who was then clerk and 
register, largely through whose efforts the 
scheme miscarried. When the board con- 
vened there were a score or more of people 
at Sherman from Clam Lake, besides the 
supervisor, and arrangements had been 



256 



WEXFORD COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



made by the Sherman people with WiUiam 
McCHntock, who was running a kiinber 
camp four miles east of Sherman, to be on 
hand with a large number of his men to see 
that no one was molested after the vote was 
taken. Odds of two to one were offered 
by the Clam Lake sympathizers that the 
resolution would pass, so confident were 
they that the arrangement would be carried 
out. Even George A. ]\Iitchell, the one who 
had platted and fostered the village of Clam 
Lake, was present to witness, as he sup- 
posed, the end of his efforts to secure the 
county seat. The excitement was intense 
until the announcement of the vote deciding 
the resolution lost, when a great shout went 
up from the people of Sherman over the de- 
feat of their enemies and a corresponding 
look of dismay was displayed by the friends 
of the resolution. Tiie Sherman people 



were so sure that they would come out ahead 
that they had prepared to celebrate their 
victory by the firing of anvils, and had 
already commenced this work when Mr. 
Mitchell came along on horseback. ha\ing 
started on his return home, and begged the 
boys to desist until he could get by with his 
horse. This request was cheerfully com- 
plied with and after he had ridden past he 
was given a parting salute. 

For many years following the removal 
of the county seat from INIanton to Cadillac 
there remained a bitter feeling on the part 
of those who had "loved and lost," and even 
yet there occasionally crops out a tinge of 
this bitterness, but nearly all parts of the 
county \\z\t come to realize that the present 
location is the proper one and the most con- 
venient for the majority of those whose 
business calls them to the countv seat. 



CHAPTER VIII. 



NEW JUDICI.VL CIRCUIT— GREENB.VCK PARTY. 



Taking up the thread of our history 
where we left oft' to narrate the events con- 
nected with the county-seat struggle, we 
commence with the year 1878. As yet there 
had been \ery little agitation of the Green- 
back question in Wexford county, but the 
county iiad arrived at that stage where there 
were a good many more aspirants for office 
than there were offices to fill, and it fre- 



quently occurred that there were defeated 
candidates in the ranks of Ijotli the okl i)ar- 
ties who, holding spoils aboxe jirinciple, 
were ready to do almost anything that they 
thought would land themselves in a good 
office. 

In the meantime the question of the re- 
sumption of specie payment by the govern- 
ment was being agitated and as a condition 



IV EX FORD COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



precedent to such action tlie volume of 
greenbacks was gradually reduced. This in 
a measure caused a contraction of the cir- 
culating medium, and this was taken up by 
those who were anxious to have a new party 
organized, that they might have a chance 
to once more get a taste of the "loaves and 
fishes," and accordingly the new party 
started out with an active and schooled 
leadership. Many speakers were employed 
throughout the state, and in Wexford 
county a thorough canvass was made. The 
new party wanted an "organ" in the county, 
and as both the county papers were Repub- 
lican they tried to get control of one of 
them — the Pioneer — and make it a Green- 
back paper. 

H. F. Campbell, who had been working 
on the paper for about a year, had secured 
an option to purchase it at a stated price by 
paying one hundred dollars down and the 
balance in one year. As the time approached 
for making this payment Mr. Campbell saw 
he was going to be unable to meet it, and a 
consultation was had among the Republican 
candidates on the county ticket and other 
Republicans at the county seat, the result 
being that J. H. Wheeler furnished the one 
hundred dollars to make the payment agreed 
upon, and became a half owner of the paper. 
The former ow-ner was so anxious to get 
the paper back that he refused to take the 
money offered him, and a legal tender had 
to be made, and he was obliged in the end 
to take it. 

The campaign was waged with the ut- 
most \igor. the Democrats and Green back- 
ers having "fused" on the county ticket, and 
through their untiring efforts they suc- 
ceeded in electing one of their candidates, 
the treasurer, by a small niajority. The 



candidates and the votes each polled were as 
follows : Sheriff, William Kelley, Rep., 
407; William Marin, Dem., 355. Clerk and 
register, C. J. Manlelow, Rep., 559; A. J. 
Teed. Dem., 518. Treasurer, R. D. Cudde- 
back. Rep., 399; E. Shay, Dem., 499. Prose- 
cuting attorney, D. A. Rice, Rep., 537 ; E. F. 
Sawyer, Dem., 521. Circuit court commis- 
sioner, D. E. Mclntyre, Rep., 544; E. F. 
Sawyer, Dem., 523. 

It will thus be seen that the largest ma- 
jority any candidate on the Republican 
ticket received was fifty-two for Sheriff 
Kelley. Mr. Kelley died before the time 
arri\ed for him to assume the duties of his 
office, January i, 1879, and a special election 
was held on the first Monday of April to 
fill the vacancy, at which election Charles 
C. Dunham was elected, receiving five hun- 
dred and seventy-nine votes to four hundred 
and four cast for E. Harger and two hun- 
dred and thirty-two for I'Vank Weaver. 

On the 5th of August. 1878, George A. 
Mitchell, the founder of the village of Clam 
Lake (now city of Cadillac), met with a 
fatal accident on the streets of that village. 
The village was yet in its infancy and the 
main streets were incumbered with the 
stumps from which the pine trees had been 
cut. Mr. Mitchell had a shingle mill at 
that time on Pine street, and while return- 
ing to his home from the mill he was thrown 
from his buggy, his head striking against 
a stump by the roadside, rendering him un- 
conscious, from which state he never fully 
recovered. He died August 8, and his death 
was a severe blow to the community. He 
was a very public-spirited man. having do- 
nated sites for the different churches in the 
village and giving liberally of his means 
toward the erection of church buildings. 



258 



WEXFORD COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



W'lieii tlie war of the Rebellion commenced 
" he was given the appointment of paymaster. 
He proved such a competent and energetic 
official that when the war closed he had 
risen to the rank of brevet lieutenant-colonel. 
During his services in this position he re- 
ceived and paid out millions of dollars for 
the government, and it was said of him that 
his accounts always balanced to a cent. It 
had been one of his greater desires to see 
the county seat located in Clam Lake and 
he had reserved block "F" of the original 
plat for such purpose, but his death came 
nearly four years before its arrival. 

About this time E. Shay, mentioned 
heretofore as having been elected county 
treasurer in the fall of 1878, invented a 
logging engine which practically revolu- 
tionized logging operations. Hitherto all 
logging had been done with teams and 
sleighs in the winter and with "big wheels" 
with occasional "tram." or "i)ole," roads in 
the summer. With this new invention it 
was possible to haul long trains of log cars 
over considerable grades and at much less 
expense than with teams, and to extend 
lumbering operations to a much greater dis- 
tance from the mills, or water courses, with 
profit, than could possibly be done by 
handling the logs with teams. With the aid 
of this new means of conveying forest prod- 
ucts to the mills, the mill owners of Cadillac 
began to enlarge their holdings of timber by 
purchasing tracts in adjoining counties, and 
thus the lumbering business, which it was 
thought could not last more than eight or 
ten years, has continued until the present 
time, with timber enough still in sight to 
keep the mills of Cadillac busy for the next 
fifteen or twenty years. It was not long 
after the inauguration of the narrow-gauge 



railroad logging that it was found practica- 
ble to move logs on the standard railroads, 
and this business has now grown to such gi- 
gantic proportions that the railroads find it 
almost impossible to furnish cars enough to 
supply the demand and logs are often car- 
ried a hmidred miles to be manufactured. 

The extension of one of these logging 
railroads, running northeasterly from Cad- 
illac, gave Lake City, in Missaukee county, 
her first railroad connection with the out- 
side world. This was known as the Cadillac 
& Northeastern Railroad, and for several 
years it ran regular passenger trains to Lake 
City. The Grand Rapids & Indiana Rail- 
road finally extended its Long Lake branch 
to Lake City, and the Cadillac & Northeast- 
ern discontinued its passenger trains, but 
was still used for logging purposes until the 
summer of 1901, when, having exhausted 
the supply of timber through which it ran, it 
was abandoned and its rails and rolling 
stock were used in building and equipping 
a similar road which is now penetrating the 
forests in a northwesterly direction from 
the city of Cadillac, supplying the mills and 
chemical plant of Cummer, Diggins & Com- 
pany with the necessary material to keep 
them in constant operation. 

The Greenback heresy had somewhat 
lost its hold upon the people in 1880 and as 
a result the Republican county ticket nomi- 
nated that year was elected by old-time ma- 
jorities, except the treasurer, for which 
office the vote was quite evenly divided, and 
also on prosecuting attorney, for which 
office there were three candidates, D. A. 
Rice running as an independent candidate. 
The candidates and the vote for each is here- 
with given : 

Judge of probate, H. N. Green, Rep., 



WEXFORD COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



259 



926; I. N. Carpenter, Deni., 707. Sheriff, 
C. C. Diinliam, Rep., 1190; W. H. Gushing, 
Dem., 404. County clerk, T. J. Thorp, 
Rep., 852; J. Crowley, Dem., 495; C. J. 
Mankleton, Intl., 301. Register of deeds, 
T. J. Thorp, Rep., 774; J. Crowley, Dem., 
502; C. J. Mankleton, Ind., 300. Treas- 
urerr, John Mansfield, Rep., 878; H. C. Mc- 
Farlan, Dem., 755. Prosecuting attorney, 
S. J. Wall, Rep., 738; J. B. Rosevelt, Dem., 
292; D. A. Rice, Ind., 600. 

The legislature which convened in Janu- 
ary, 1 88 1, passed an act creating the twenty - 
eighth judicial circuit, composed of Benzie, 
Kalkaska, Missaukee, Roscommon and 
Wexford counties. The first judge of the 
new circuit was John M. Rice, who was 
appointed soon after the act creating the 
circuit took effect, but resigned in April, 
1882. His successor was Silas S. Fallass, 
•then living" in Cadillac, who served out the 
balance of the term for which Judge Rice 
was appointed and the next full term of six 
years. Wexford county has been honored 
by furnishing a judge for the twenty-eighth 
judicial circuit ever since its first organiza- 
tion until the present time. The several in- 
cumbents have been John M. Rice, Silas S. 
Fallass, Fred H. Aldrich and Clyde C. Chit- 
tenden, who is now serving his third year 
on the bench. 

Great improvements had been made in 
the county for the first ten years of its ex- 
istence as a county, as shown by the census 
of 1S80, which showed a population of 
sixty-eight hundred and fifteen, compared 
with thirty-one hundred and ninety-four at 
the state census of 1874 and sevea hundred 
and eighty in 1870. Many pieces of land 
were purchased by new settlers from the 
railroad company, and from the state, which 



had reserved several thousand acres of the 
farming lands in the county, under an act 
authorizing the reservation of a large 
quantity of land for the support of an agri- 
cultural college. This last class of lands 
could be purchased then for three dollars 
per acre, and only one-quarter of this was 
required at the time of purchase, the balance 
to run as long as the purchaser chose to let 
it run, by paying interest at the rate of seven 
per cent, per annum. The railroad lands 
were for a long time sold on one-quarter 
payment at time of purchase and balance in 
four or five annual payments. The price 
of the railroad lands varied according to 
location, but none were sold for less than 
six dollars per acre. 

Many people have thought that the 
land-grant system was a great injury to the 
county, but in the light of experience this 
claim will hardly stand close scrutiny. Had 
all the land in the county been subject to 
homestead entry the timber would largely 
have disappeared, as farming would have 
been the chief industry, and the vast forests 
of hardwood woukl have been swept away 
to enable the homesteaders to raise the 
necessaries of life. In looking over the 
county at the present time one may see hun- 
dreds of farms upon which once stood a 
splendid growth of hardwood, nearly all of 
which disappeared long before it had any 
commercial value. By occasionally raising 
the price of their lands the state and the 
railroad company had to keep most of their 
lands until the time was ripe for the utiliza- 
tion of the hardwoods and hemlock witli 
which they were principally covered, and 
this paved the way for the present most 
prosperous times the county has ever seen, 
when hemlock and hardwood lumbering dis- 



260 



jy EX FORD COUNTY. MICHIGAN. 



tributes more money tliroughout the county 
and furnishes a better market for the prod- 
ucts of the farm tlian chd tlie pine lumbering 
in its palmiest days. 

"The poor ye have always with you," 
and consequently all counties have to take 
care of such indigent persons as live within 
their borders. The county had erected a 
commodious poor house, as heretofore 
noted, but the location did not suit those 
who were bent on moving the county seat 
lo Cadillac. It happened that the superin- 
tendents of the poor were obliged to take 
care of a family by the name of Root, in 
consequence of the husband and father hav- 
ing been sentenced to the state prison for 
quite a long term of years. The family con- 
sisted of the mother and six or seven chil- 
dren, ranging from one to fourteen or fif- 
teen years of age. The sujjerintendents de- 
cided that the county should be reimbursed 
for the cost it might be put to in caring for 
tlie family, so they took a mortgage on the 
farm, subject to a mortgage that had already 
been given. The result was that the county 
had to foreclose its mortgage and take care 
of the first mortgage, and thus it was that 
the county came into possession of the pres- 
ent i)oor farm. As early as 1880 an effort 
was made to have the old county farm sold 
and make a poor farm out of the "Root 
farm," but without success. At the annual 
meeting of the board of supervisors in 1881 
a resolution was adopted making the chair- 
man of the board a committee of one to 
rccei\e proposals for the sale of the poor 
farm. A sale was effected as the outgrowth 
of this action, the price agreed upon being 
nineteen hundred and twenty-five dollars, 
less than the buildings had cost, to say noth- 
ing of the hundreds of dollars that had been 



expended in clearing and fencing the land. 
Of this amount one thousand dollars was 
paid in cash and a mortgage given for the 
balance. The county was obliged to fore- 
close the mortgage and several years later 
sold the farm again for eighteen hundred 
dollars. 

At the same session of the Ijoard which 
took action to sell the 6ld poor farm provis- 
ion was made for putting the buildings on 
the Root farm in condition to care for such 
paupers as might have to be permanently 
supported by the county, and the next year 
a large and well-equipped building was 
erected and furnished for this purpose. 
Hitherto all expenses for the support of the 
]ioor had been borne by the county at large, 
but at the annual meeting of the board of 
supervisors a resolution was passed reviving 
the distinction between town and county 
poor. Under this arrangement each town 
had to support its own poor, and only 
transient poor were cared for by the county. 
The towns could send their paupers to the 
county house and have them cared for there 
by the week, or could hire them supported 
el.sewhere if they preferred. As it took a 
year to gain a residence in the county to 
make the expense of an indigent person 
chargeable to any town or city, and as the 
support of such had to be borne b\' the 
county at large in the meantime, and the 
towns had to bear their share of this ex- 
pense, as well as the expense of caring for 
their own ])oor, tlic arrangement was not 
very satisfactory and only remained in force 
a couple of years before the distinction was 
abolished, since which all poor exjjenses 
have been borne by the county. 

The valuation of the county as fixed by 
the board of supervisors at its annual meet- 



WEXFORD COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



261 



ing in 1882 was $3,676,739.25. This was 
a fine showing for the county in view of tlie 
fact that thousands of acres of pine land 
had been denuded of its forests, and the lum- 
l)er had been shipped out of the cotmty dur- 
ing the preceding ten years, and augured 
well for the future greatness of the county 
as an agricultural community. 

At this meeting of the board a resolution 
was also passed to submit to a vote of the 
people at the April election of 1883 the ques- 
tion of bonding the county for five thousand 
dollars for the purpose of building a county 
jail at Cadillac. The proposition was car- 
ried by a vote of eight hundred and eighty- 
eight to six hundred and sixty-nine, but a 
question arising as to tlie legality of the 
passage of the resolution of the board, the 
matter was again placed before the people 
at the spring election in 1884 and was again 
carried by a vote of eleven hundred and nine 
to nine hundred and five, but the bonds were 
never issued. 

When the county seat was removed to 
Cadillac the second story of the building 
then owned by Fred S. Kieldsen was rented 
for county offices and court room. This 
building stood on the site now occupied by 
the city hall. The county continued to oc- 
cupy the second floor until 1887, when it 
rented the second floor of the Laber & 
Cornwell building, which it occupied for 
several years. When the Masonic fraternity 
decided to erect a temple in Cadillac a com- 
mittee was appointed to confer with the 
board of supervisors with a view to having 
the second story of their proposed building 
fitted especially for the use of the county, 
provided the county would contract to rent 



it for a period of ten years at a rental to be 
agreed upon between the contracting par- 
ties. This arrangement was carried out, and 
in March, 1890, the county moved into its 
new quarters, where it has remained until 
the present time. The new quarters con- 
sisted of a large court room, a commodious 
supervisor's room, a suite of three rooms 
for the clerk and register of deeds, two 
rooms for the prosecuting attorney and one 
each for the judge of probate, sheriff, treas- 
urer and superintendent of the poor. One 
or two attempts have been made to have the 
board of supervisors pass a resolution sub- 
mitting to the people the question of bonding 
the county for the purpose of building a 
court house, but without success. 

At the election in 1882 the Republican 
party was again successful on its entire 
ticket except prosecuting attorney, the can- 
didates of the two parties and the vote given 
for each being as follows : Sheriff, David 
C. Cook, Rep., 726; Horton Crandall, Dem., 
288: F. Weaver, Ind., 427. County clerk, 
T. J. Thorp, Rep., 881 ; James Crowley, 
Dem., 566. Register of deeds, T. J. Thorp. 
Rep., 887: James Crowley, Dem., 568. 
Treasurer, John Mansfield, Rep., 1079; C. 
T. Chapin, Dem., 352. Prosecuting attor- 
ney, E. F. Sawyer, Rep., 562: J. B. Rose- 
velt, Dem., 32: D. T-:. Mclntyre, Ind., 689. 

The salary of the prosecuting attorney 
was raised to twelve hundred dollars at the 
October session of the board of supervisors, 
which induced Mr. Mclntyre to enter the 
race for that office as an independent can- 
didate, and so strenuous did he wage his 
campaign that he won by more than a hun- 
dred plurality. 



CHAPTER IX. 



NEW RAILROAD 



NEW VILLAGES— NEW IMPETUS TO FARMING 
AND LUMBERING. 



The one great hindrance to the rapid 
de\eIopment of the county was the lack of 
facihties for reaching a market. The whole 
western half of the county had to drive 
either to Cadillac or Manton, on the Grand 
Rapids & Indiana Railroad, to reach a 
market for a load of potatoes or any other 
farm product. To some the distance was 
over twenty miles, necessitating a two-days 
trip. The roads were rough and the hills 
sandy, and thirty or thirty-five bushels of 
potatoes was all a team could draw. By the 
time the farmer had paid for his expenses at 
the hotel over night he would not have much 
left out of his load of potatoes unless they 
brought more than twenty-five or thirty 
cents per bushel. Under these circumstances 
it is not strange that there was a lack of 
"push" on the part of the farmers. 
About the only farm product that there was 
any money in was hay. The close proximity 
of the linnbering camps afforded a ready sale 
for all the hay the farmers could spare, 
at a good price, sometimes running as high 
as twenty dollars ])er ton. The fact that 
hay always found a ready sale caused many 
farmers to keep their land seeded to grass 



SI) much that it greatly imi)i>\erishe(l the 
soil and thus retarded future farming, as a 
light soil once run down is very hard to 
again put into condition to raise good crops. 
During the winter of 1883-4 the survey- 
ors of the Chicago & West Michigan Rail- 
road visited northern Michigan, taking ob- 
servations as to the most desirable route for 
the extension of their road. They visited 
Sherman and looked up the approaches to 
the Manistee river from the north and 
south, and expressed themselves as well 
satisfied with the feasibility of crossing at 
that point and following the valley of the 
Wheeler creek northward, running a little 
east of \\^exford Corners anil then drop- 
ping o\er into the Boardnian ri\er valley, 
thus making an easy grade into Traverse 
City. The people in the western part of the 
county were greatly elated over the pros- 
pects of having a railroad near their farms, 
but railroads have cjueer ways and their 
building is accompanied often with vex- 
atious delays, and so it happened that when 
the Chicago & West Michigan Railroad was 
built several years later it took an entirely 
new route and did not touch Wexford 



WEXFORD COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



263 



county ; in fact, it was run so far west as to 
be of very little practical benefit to the farm- 
ers of the county. 

In the meantime the Toledo, Ann Arbor 
& North Michigan Railroad Company had 
!:)een organized and had started in to build 
a road to some point on the eastern shore of 
Lake Michigan. The projectors of this un- 
dertaking were the Ashleys, of Toledo — 
father and two sons, Harry and James, or 
"Jim," as he was familiarly called. Neither 
of these parties had much money of their 
own, but they had enterprise and push, 
especially "Jim." who could overcome more 
difficulties and surmount more obstacles 
than half a dozen ordinary business men, 
and it was largely through these qualities 
that the road was completed, though its 
building covered a period of several years, 
and more than once it was said, "The Ash- 
leys ha\e got to the end of their rope and 
the road will never go any farther;" but still 
the next year would witness another exten- 
sion, and so, little by little, the work pro- 
gressed. In the summer of 1886, through 
the promise of thirty-five thousand dollars 
on the part of the city of Cadillac, the work 
of extending the road from Mt. Pleasant, 
its then terminus, to Cadillac was under- 
taken. A large force of men were put to 
work at various points along the line and 
before September the laying of rails was 
commenced. This work progressed from 
both ends of this section, the rails being 
brought to Cadillac over the Grand Rapids 
& Indiana Railroad to use in laying the 
northern end of the section. Winter set in 
before the last rail was laid, and some of 
the grading and several miles of track lay- 
ing was done when the snow covered the 



ground to a depth of several inches. But 
notwithstanding the cold and the snow the 
first train over the new extension reached 
Cadillac within the time agreed upon, Janu- 
ary I, 1887, and its arrival marked a new 
era in the county's history. 

To fittingly celebrate this event the rail- 
road company gave a free excursion to 
Alma and a free dinner at the celebrated 
Wright Hotel at that place, inviting many 
of the prominent men of the city and the 
county at large, and the city arranged for 
a grand banquet at the Hotel McKinnon 
when the party, including railroad officials 
and the railroad commissioner of the state, 
should return in the evening. 

The night preceding the day fixed for 
the excursion a heavy snow storm set in, 
accompanied with a gale of wind, and when 
morning dawned the streets and sidewalks 
in Cadillac were piled so full of snow that 
it was impossible for ladies to get to the 
train, and a number of the gentlemen who 
otherwise would have taken the trip staid 
at home an account of the drifts. As the 
road ran nearly all the way to Farwel! 
through the woods, there was not much diffi- 
culty experienced in making the run to 
Alma, but the storm continued all day and 
it was not without some misgivings that the 
return journey was begun. A delay of over 
two hours in starting was caused by a wreck 
on a branch of the D. L. & N. Railroad, 
which crossetl the Toledo, Ann Arbor & 
Northern Michigan Railroad just north of 
the station at Alma, by which a freight car 
was thrown upon the track just where the 
two roads intersected each other, and it had 
to be removed before the excursion train 
could start. Some of the excursionists were 



264 



JV EX FORD COUNTY. MICHIGAN. 



wise enough to return to the village, a half 
mile distant, and purchase a lunch, fearing 
they would be late at the banquet in Cadillac. 
At last, just as it had begun to grow 
dark, the train pulled out. By the time 
il had reached L'larc, on the Mint & Pere 
.Manpiette Railroad, those who had not 
])ro\ided themselves with a lunch at Alma 
made a rush for the lunch room kept 
at that station, and soon had purchased 
everything eatable in sight. Here a tele- 
gram was sent to tho.se in charge of the 
banquet at Cadillac that the train would 
arrive there about nine o'clock. Soon 
after leaving Farwell the train ran into a 
snow bank and came to a dead stop. Half 
a hundred men jumped out in the snow, 
tore boards from the fence beside the track, 
and by flint of stamping and pushing away 
the snow ivom the engine, the train was 
soon started again. /\1I went well while on 
a down grade to the crossing of the Mus- 
kegon river, though progress was slow ow- 
ing to the fact that eight or ten inches of 
snow had fallen during the day and there 
having as yet been no freight trains over the 
new road the engine had to push its way 
through this fresh snow all the way. After 
crossing the Muskegon riser there was a 
long up-grade to make, and while using all 
the steam possible to push through the snow 
and make the grade, the train suddenly came 
to a stop. In\estigation disclosed the fact 
that the rails had spread and the engine was 
ofif the track. All the balance of the night 
the tr.iinmcn worked to get the engine on 
the rails again. The tall form of "Jim " 
.'\shley could be seen directing the work and 
assisting the men in their efi'orts to fi.x the 
track and right the engine. The accident 
was caused by the carelessness or negligence 



of the track layers, who had failed to prop- 
erly spike the rails to the ties, and in the ex- 
tra pressure caused by the resistance of the 
snow the engine had found a weak spot and 
left the mils. The train w as going at such a 
slow rate that there was hardly a jar felt by 
those on board, and at first they would 
hardly believe it could be so. When it was 
realized that a long time would be required 
to get under way again, all hope of getting 
a taste of the banquet at the Hotel McKin- 
non was banished and those who were for- 
tunate enough to have provided themselves 
with crackers and cheese proceeded to satisfy 
their appetites for the time being, hoping 
that Cadillac would be reached in time for 
breakfast. As before stated, it was long 
after daylight when evervthing had been 
gotten ready for a start, but by this time the 
engine's supply of water and coal was nearly 
exhausted and a trip must be made to Cadil- 
lac for a supply before it could haul the train 
in. It should be stated that as yet there was 
no telegraph line erected along the road, 
and as the accident occurred alxiut half way 
between Farwell and Cadillac, in a dense 
forest devoid of roads or settlers, it was 
therefore impossible to communicate with 
any one. If it had been thought that it 
would take all night to get started, a mes- 
senger could have been dispatched to Cadil- 
lac and another engine and better api)liances 
could have been sent to the rescue; but of 
course it was expected that it would not take 
more than an hour or two to get under way 
again, but hour after hour went by without 
witnessing success on the part of the work- 
ers. 

The engine found great difficulty in 
reaching Cadillac, and by the time it had 
rcceive<l its sujiply of coal and water, re- 



JV EX FORD COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



265 



turned to the train and hauled it to the city, 
it was considerably after noon, and those 
of us who lived in the northern part of 
the county had just time to eat a hasty 
meal before taking the train on the Grand 
Rapids & Indiana Railroad for home. The 
managers of the banquet at Cadillac, after 
waiting until after ten o'clock p. m. with- 
out hearing from the train, proceeded with 
the programme so far as they could without 
the expected guests, but it is said to have 
been a very dull affair, caused in part by the 
absence of the railroad officials and partly 
by the thought which filled all minds that 
a dreadful accident had happened to the 
train. All in all it was an eventful trip, but 
notwithstanding the night spent in the 
woods everybody was in good spirits on the 
train except the trainmen and road officials, 
who were so vexed at the mishap that none 
of them would "crack a smile." 

During tlie summer of 1887 tlie road 
was completed as far as Marietta and graded 
some distance west of that place, and the 
following year it passed on through Wex- 
ford county, reaching Frankfort in the fall 
of 1899. The Ashleys bought a piece of 
land and platted the village of Harietta in 
1888, the name being a combination made 
from Harry Ashley and the name of his in- 
tended wife. Henrietta Burt. The village 
of Boon was platted about the same time, 
and the next year witnessed the platting of 
the village of Mesick. A year or two after 
this the village of Yuma was platted, mak- 
ing four villages as the direct result of the 
building of the Toledo, Ann Arbor & North- 
ern Michigan Railroad, as it was called, but 
now known as the .\nn Arlior Railroad. 
This road, penetrating as it did one of the 
best farming sections of the county, gave a 



new impetus to the farming industry, and 
since its coming a marked and steady 
growth of that industry has been noticeable. 
Not only did it open up a more direct and 
less expensive market for the shipment of 
farm products but it stimulated the lumber- 
ing business to such an e.xtent that the de- 
mand for the products of the farm for the 
mills and camps greatly increased the home 
market and correspondingly the prices re- 
ceived for sucli products. The lumbering 
operations growing out of the building of 
this road being largely confined to the hard- 
wood of the county, resulted in causing the 
clearing of thousands of acres of land and 
transforming them into productive farms, 
as every acre of hardwood land, when once 
cleared, makes good farming land. 

In taking up the political history we find 
that cjuite a change occurred in political 
supremacy in the county in 1884. The re- 
verses to tlie Republican party in that elec- 
tion were not entirely political but were 
more the result of personal and sectional 
matters than of party feelings. The Wex- 
ford County Pioneer, owned by J. H. 
Wheeler, had always been very strenuous 
in its efforts to prevent the removal of the 
county seat from Sherman, but when it was 
taken to Mant(3n by a combination between 
Manton antl Cadillac, it declined to further 
fight against what it deemed to be the in- 
evitable sequence — its final removal to Cad- 
illac. For this reason its editor stood in 
great disfavor among the people who wished 
to have the county seat always remain in 
Manton. The editor's position, that the 
remo\aI to Manton was only a stepping 
stone on the way to Cadillac, was amply 
proven by subsequent e\ents as narrated in 
the county-seat chapter elsewhere herein, 



266 



WEXFORD COUNTY. MICHIGAN. 



but. nevertheless it cost him several hundred 
votes in the fall election of 1884. causing his 
defeat for the office of county treasurer. 

Personal reasons also entered into the 
defeat of Col. T. J. Thorp for clerk and 
register. It was largely through his leader- 
ship tliat the county seat went to Manton, 
and it was under his generalship that the 
records and propertj' of the county were re- 
moved from Manton the morning after the 
vote on the question of removal to Cadillac 
had been taken, thus preventing injunction 
proceedings. This was enough to cause 
party allegiance to give way to personal 
prejudice, and it thus transpired that the 
Republicans only elected one candidate on 
their entire county ticket by an actual ma- 
jorily, though some others were elected by 
pluralities. The following is a list of candi 
dates, with the vote given for each : Judge 
of probate, H. AI. Dunham, Rep., 835 ; W. 
P. Smith, Deni., 740; J. Crowley, Ind., 682. 
Sherift", C. C. Dunham, Rep., 1,034; E. I. 
Bowen, Dem., 716; E. George, Ind., 487. 
County clerk. T. J. Thorp, Rep., 1,075; G 
A. Cummer, Dem., 1,160. Register of 
deeds, T. J. Thorp, Rep.. 1.048; G. A. Cum- 
mer, Dem., 1,160. Treasurer, J. H. 
Wheeler, Rep., 778; James Haynes, Dem.. 
1,470. Prosecuting attorney, D. A. Rice, 
Rep., 810; J. B. Rosevelt, Dem., 678; D. 
Mclntyre, Ind., 726. Circuit court com- 
missit)ner, C. C. Chittenden. Rep., 1,576; 
J. R. Bishop, Dem., 639. 

During the two years which succeeded 
this election sectional feeling had become 
somewhat allayed, and in consequence the 
I'Jciniblican ticket, with one exception, was 
elected at the November election of 1886. 
This exception was for the office of clerk 
and register, the incumbent, George A. 



Cummer, defeating the Republican nomi- 
nee, S. J. Wall, by one hundred and forty- 
nine votes. The election was confined 
entirely to the two parties. Republican and 
Democratic, though the Demcxrats had 
placed a Republican on their ticket for 
prosecuting attorney. The candidates of 
each party and vote received by each were 
as follows: Sheriff, C. C. Dunham, Rep., 
1,318; W. Geibert, Dem., 578. County 
clerk. S. J. Wall, Rep., 888; George A. 
Cummer, Dem., 1,029. Register of deeds, 
S. J. Wall, Rep., 884; George A. Cummer, 
Dem., 1,010. Treasurer, E. Harger, Rep.. 
1,045; E. J. Haynes, Dem., 874. Prose- 
cuting attorney, C. C. Chittenden, Rep., 
1,051 ; D. A. Rice, Dem., 904. Circuit court 
commissioner, C. S. Marr, Rep., 1,049; J- 
R. Bishop, Dem., 839. 

A much larger vote was polled in 1888, 
it being a presidential election, and great 
efforts were put forth by both parties to win, 
if possible. The Republicans went outside 
of the city for the first time in six years for 
a candidate for sheriff, nominating W^ L. 
Sturtevant, of Sherman, and the Democrats, 
to checkmate this move to solidify the rural 
vote for a rural candidate, nominated B. 
Woods, also of Sherman, and a boon com- 
panion of the Republican nominee, as their 
candidate fi>r that office. The vote was 
large, as the canvass had been waged with 
great spirit on both sides, but the Republi- 
cans came out victors on their entire ticket, 
as follows ■ Judge of probate, H. AI. Dun- 
ham, Rep.. 1,460; TI. r>. Sturtevant, Dem., 
1,035. Sheriff, \\'. L. Sturtevant, Rep.. 
1.392; B. Woods, Dem., 1,140. Clerk and 
register, S. J. Wall, Rep., 1,283; George A. 
Cummer, Dem., 1,266. Treasurer, E. Har- 
ger, Rep., 1,501; C. E. Haynes, Dem., 



WEXFORD COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



267 



1,038. Prosecuting attorney, C. C. Chit- 
tenden, Rep., 1,588; D. A. Rice, Dem., 598. 
Circuit court commissioner, E. E. Haskins. 
Rep., i,5-'6: J. R. Bishop, Dem., 1,085. 

After tlie county seat was removed to 
Cadillac efforts were soon made to have the 
county buy a lot and build a jail, and twice 
had the matter been brought before the elect- 
ors in the form of a proposition to bond the 
county for that purpose, but the bitterness 
resulting from the two remo\'als of the 
county seat was for a time so great that the 
matter was finally compromised by tlie 
county agreeing to rent a jail and sheriff's 
residence if one was erected according to 
plans and specifications to be furnished by 
the county. That was done and the matter 
remained in statu quo until the annual meet- 
ing of the board of supervisors in 1887, 
when a resolution was adopted by the board 
providing for the purchase of the jail prop- 
erty and providing for submitting to the 
electors of the county at the annual town- 
ship meeting in April, 1888, the question of 
raising by tax the forty-two hundred and 
fifty dollars agreed upon as the purchase 
price. The vote on this proposition was ten 
hundred and fifty-one in favor of it and eight 
hundred and forty-six against. So the 
question was carried and the county soon 
after became the owner of a jail and sher- 
iff's residence. 

The coming of the Toledo, Ann Arbor 
& Northern Michigan Railroad gave such an 
impetus to the settlement of the county that 
the census of 1890 disclosed the fact that 
the population of the county had more than 
doubled since 1880, the total being sixteen 
thousanil, eight hundred and forty-five as 
compared with sixty-eight hundred and fif- 
teen in 1880, the increase thus lieing a little 



more than ten thousand in ten years, or an 
a\erage of over a thousand a year. Few 
new counties in the state could show such 
a wonderful growth at a corresponding 
period of its history. The growth was also 
of a permanent character, as the transient 
lumbering operations along the Manistee 
ri\er had moved on up the river until they 
had passed the limits of the county. 

The Republican party, having made a 
clear sweep with its county ticket in 1888, 
has carried the elections for every county 
office since that year except the office of 
treasurer in 1890, when J. W. Ransom, 
Democrat, defeated Rinaldo Euller, Repub- 
lican, by a plurality of forty-nine votes. The 
candidates of the parties that year and votes 
cast for each were as follows : Sheriff, W. 
L. Sturtevant, Rep., 1,020; F. D. Seeley, 
Dem., 817. Clerk and register, S. J. Wall, 
Rep., 1,005; L. M. Patterson, Dem., 842. 
Treasurer, R. Fuller, Rep., 905; J. W. Ran- 
som, Dem., 944. Prosecuting attorney, C. 
C. Chittenden, Rep., 1,777; no Democratic 
candidate. Circuit court commissioner, R. 
F. Tinkham, Rep., 1,810; no Democratic 
candidate. 

The following tables will show who were 
nominated by the leading parties, Republi- 
can and Democratic, and the vote given for 
the several candidates of each party cover- 
ing the period from 1892 to 1902 inclusive 

1892 — Judge of probate, John Mans- 
field, Rep., 1,365 : C. E. Cooper, Dem., 1,199 
Sheriff — C. C. Dunham, Rep., 1,377: J. P 
Kundsen. Dem., ^ ,i()2. County clerk, S 
J. Wall, Rep., 1,400; Lewis R. Bishop 
Dem., 1,165. Register of deeds, S. J 
Wall, Rep., 1,400; Lewis R. Bishop, Dem., 
1,165. Treasurer, E. Harger, Rep., 1,342; 
J. W. Ronsom, Dem., 1,207. I'rosecuting 



268 



]y EX FORD COUKTY, MICHIGAN. 



attorney, D. A. Rice, Rep.. 1.413: no Demo- 
cratic candidate. Circuit court commis- 
sioner, Fred S. Lamb, Rep.. 1,408; no 
Democratic candidate. 

1894 — Sheriff, C. C. Dunliam, Rep., 
1.443; Barton Colvin, Dem., 744. Covmty 
clerk, S. J. Wall, Rep., 1,411; Charles H. 
Bostick, Dem., 801. Register of deeds. S. 
J. Wall. Rep.. 1.442: J. B. Yarnell, Dem., 
767. Treasurer. E. W. Wheeler, Rep., 
1.423: William E. Dean, Dem., 442; Will- 
iam Hoag, Ind., 338. Prosecuting attorney, 
D. A. Rice, Rep., 1,489; I. C. Wheeler, 
Dem.. 516. Circuit court commissioner, 
Fred S. Lamb, Rep.. 1.5 10 : H. B. Sturte- 
vant, Dem., 470. 

1896 — Judge of probate, John Mans- 
field, Rep., 2,019; E. F. Sawyer, Dem., 
1 401. Sheriff, George A. Troy, Rep., 1,774; 
James Mather, Dem., 1.648. County clerk, 
Menry Hansen, Rep.. 2.036; George S. 
Stanley, Dem., 1.383. Register of deeds, 
P. W. Hinman. Rep., 1,995; C. D. Phelps, 
Dem., 1.436. Treasurer, E. A\'. Wheeler. 
Rep., 2,074: William E. Dean, Dem., 1,350. 
Prosecuting attorney, Fred S. Lamb, Rep., 
2,032: L C. Wheeler, Dem., 1.394. Circuit 
court commissioner, Elwood Peck, Rep.. 
2.044; H. B. Sturtevant. Dem.. 1.374. 

1898 — Sheriff", George A. Troy, Rep., 
1.326; James Mather, Dem., 924. County 
clerk, Henry Hansen, Rep., 1,376; George 
S. Stanley, Dem., 869. Register of deeds, 
P. W. Hinman. Rep., 1,496; C. H. Bos- 
tick. Dem.. ^2^. Treasurer, J. H. Wheeler, 
Rep.. 1. 401; James Whaley, Dem., 842. 
Prosecuting attorney, h'red S. Lamb, Rep.. 
1. 481; T. R. Bishop. Dem., 748; Circuit 
count commissioner, F.lwood Peck, Rep., 
1,495; I- C. Wheeler. Dem.. 726. 

1900 — Judge of ])robate. Fred S. Lamb. 



Rq)., 2,183: James R. Bishop, Dem., 1,226. 
Sheriff, Silas W. Huckleberry, Dem., 2,232; 
Herbert Kellogg, Dem., 1,132. County 
clerk, David F. Garver, Rep.. 2,162; W. S. 
Randall, Dem., 1,186. Register of deeds, 
Henry Hansen. Rep., 2.204; William H. 
Gray, Dem.. 1,139. Treasurer, J. H. 
Wheeler, Rep.. 2,069 • J- -^- Gustafson, Dem., 
1.277. Prosecuting attorney, Fred C. 
^\'etmore, Rep., 2,515; no Democratic can- 
didate. Circuit court commissioner, D. A. 
Rice, Rep., 2,504; no Democratic candidate. 

1902 — Sheriff, S. W. Huckleberry, Rep., 
1.379; ]\L J. Compton, Dem., 470. County 
clerk, D. F. Garver, Rep., 1,315; B. C. 
Dean. Dem., 537. Register of deeds, Hen- 
ry Hansen, Rep., 1.346; G. A. Frederick, 
Dem., 504. Treasurer, C. C. Daugherty, 
Rep., 1,226; J. A. Gustafson, Dem.. 433. 
Prosecuting attorney. F. C. Wetmore. Rep., 
1.397; "o Democratic candidate. Circuit 
court commissioner, J. R. Bishop. Rep.. 
1.374; no Democratic candidate. 

By an amendment to act No. 147, of 
session laws of 1891, made at the legisla- 
tive session of -1893, the office of county 
commissioner of schools was made elective, 
the first election to take place on the first 
Monday of April, 1893, and every two years 
thereafter, and term of office to begin July 
first following the election and continue for 
two years. At the first election under this 
law George E. Herrick, of Cadillac, was 
elected by a vote of 1.108 to ySy for J. E. 
Wood, at th;it time i)rincii)al of the Sherman 
schools. 

In 1895 H. C. Foxworthy was elected 
to this office over L. A. Tibbitts, the vote 
being 1,076 for Mr. Foxworthy to 446 for 
I\Ir. Tibbitts. Mr. Foxworthy was re- 
elected in. 1897. bis opponent being Charles 



WEXFORD COUNTY. MICHIGAN. 



269 



D. Phelps and tlie vote being 1,418 for Fox- 
worthy and 898 for Mr. Phelps. He was 
also a candidate for a third term in 1899, 
hnt was defeated in the convention by i'. 
C. Siemens, of Sherman, who received the 
nomination and was elected by a majority 
of 528 over Genette E. Chick, his Demo- 
cratic opponent. Mr. Slemons was renomi- 
nated in 1 90 1 and elected by a vote of 1,664 
to 2^2 for his opponent. Miss Renie Torry, 
of Cadillac. 



At the Republican county convention in 
1903 \\'illiam A. Faunce received the nomi- 
nation for this office and at the Democratic 
county convention Miss Renie Torry, who 
had a few days previously been nominated 
by the Prohibition county convention, was 
endorsed for this office and a strong effort 
made throughout the county to secure her 
election. The result was 1,204 votes for Mr. 
Faunce and 1,123 for Miss Torry, giving the 
former a majority of 81. 



CHAPTER X. 



CITY AND VILLAGE ORGANIZATIONS. 



SHERMAN. 

Sherman, being the oldest village in the 
county, naturally comes first in historical 
order. In 1869 Sanford Gasser had that 
portion of the south half of the southeast 
quarter of section 36, in town 24, north of 
range 12 west, lying east of the Manistee 
river, platted and gave it the name of tlie 
\illage of Sherman. The place at that time 
contained Init c)iie house and one business 
l)lace, a grocery kept by Lewis J. Clark. 
The village being at the corner of four 
townships, though situated in only one of 
them, there was one other house near the 
corner oi the village, owned and occupied 



by Dr. John Perry, as he was familiarly 
called, though it was a mystery how he came 
to be called doctor, unless it was because he 
owned a set of "turn-keys" (the usual in- 
strument for pulling teeth in those days) 
and occasionally pulled a tooth for an af- 
flicted pioneer. At all events he was the 
first "doctor" in the county and also the first 
postmaster at Sherman. He also built the 
second saw-mill in the county on the stream 
now known as Cole's creek, one mile east of 
the village. This he operated for about a 
year, after which he sold it to H. B. Sturt- 
evant. 

When Sherman was made the county 
seat by the act organizing the county, quite 



270 



WEXFORD COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



a building boom was inaugurated. L. P. 
Champenour, the first county clerk, J. H. 
Wheeler, the first county treasurer, and T. 

A. Ferguson, the first resident prosecuting 
attorney, each erected houses in the summer 
of i86q. Maqueston Brothers also had a 
large store building erected, as elsewhere 
noted. There were several other buildings 
erected during that summer, and there 
began to be cjuite a \illage in fact as well 
as in name. 

A change of postmasters took place in 
1869, L. J. Clark succeeding Mr. Perry, 
since which time the following persons have 
had the office in the order named : E. W. 
Stewart, J. S. Walling, C. E. Cooper, H. 

B. Sturtevant, H. F. Campbell, J. H. Wheel- 
er, 1. N. Carpenter, E. W. Wheeler, 
Mabel Ramsey, L. P. Champenois and 
the present incumbent, R. D. Frederick, pro- 
prietor of the Sherman Pioneer. The ofiice 
is now the third in point of business in the 
county, Cadillac and Manton being the first 
and second in the order named. 

It soon developed that locations on lands 
adjoining the village plat were more desir- 
able for residence purposes than those plat- 
ted, and the larger portion of the village has 
been built upon unplatted lands. In 1882 
a tract of land in the northeast corner of sec- 
tion I in Springville township was platted 
as Crippin's addition to Sherman and nearly 
all of these lots are now occupied. The vil- 
lage was situated on the Newaygo and 
Northport State Road and near the Manis- 
tee ri\cr, the distance to the river being less 
than half a mile in a western direction and 
a little nmro than three- fi mrtlis of a mile to 
the niirth. When the work of clearing the 
river for running logs had lieen completed 
and lumbering operations were extended up 



the river to the extensive pine forests a lit- 
tle east of the village, Sherman was on 
the direct line between Manistee and the 
lumber camps, and this fact, coupled with 
the fact that it was almost impossible to haul 
supplies all the way from Manistee, gave the 
merchants of Sherman a very large and lu- 
crative trade. Occasionally some jobber 
would run behind and lea\e the store- 
keepers with bad debts on their hands, but 
these failures were very few and not of a 
serious nature. 

Sherman had the honor of having the 
first newspaper published in the county, the 
Wexford County Pioneer, owned and edited 
by C. E. Cooper and A. W. Tucker. After 
running the paper together a few years Mr. 
Tucker sold out his interest to Mr. Cooper, 
who continued in control until 1877, when 
he sold it to C. S. Marr, who conducted it 
for a little more than a year. It then went 
into the hands of H. F. Campl)cll and J. H. 
W'heeler, where it remained until January, 
1880, when Mr. Campbell sold his interest 
to Mr. Wheeler, who thus Ijecame the sole 
owner. Mr. Wheeler published the paper 
for twelve years, at the end of which 
time he sokl it to R. D. Frederick, who still 
retains it. In politics it has always been Re- 
publican, though efforts were made at one 
time to make it a Greenl}ack paper, and at 
another to purchase it and make it Demo- 
ccatic. 

The first business venture where Sher- 
man now stands was made by Lewis J. 
Clark, who built a .small frame building and 
put in a small stock of goods suitable for a 
new countrv trade. This building was 
erccteil in the summer of iSdS, and was the 
first frame structure of any kind built on the 
south side of the Manistee river in the conn- 



ir EX FORD COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



271 



ty. The first hotel was started by Sylvester 
Clerk ill a log building that was origiially 
put up by the man who homesteaded the 
land on which the village was platted. 
When this land was first located as a home- 
stead there was not even a highway south of 
the river. The state road had been chopped 
out, but not cleared for travel and the roads 
made by the few settlers on the south side 
of the river wound arountl through the 
woods wherever they could be made passi- 
ble. It was not until after the organization 
of the county that the work of stumping and 
grading the state road was completed. It 
is not much wonder, therefore, that the 
first man to settle on this piece of land should 
have got homesick and abandoned it. Soon 
after the hotel was started a frame addition 
was put up and for at least two years it was 
the only hotel in the village. The original 
log part of this relic of pioneer days still 
stands, though long since enclosed with lum- 
ber to give it the appearance of a frame 
building. The first term of the circuit 
court for the county was held in this same 
building, as was also the first meeting of 
the board of supervisors. 

The first lawyer to locate in Sherman, 
aside from T. A. Ferguson, who was ap- 
pointed prosecuting attorney soon after the 
county was organized, was E. \V. Stewart, 
who located in the village in 1870. The 
first resident preacher was Jonas Denton, 
who arrived in 1871. The first practicing 
physician was H. D. Griswold, who located 
in the village in 1872. Mr. Denton organ- 
ized the First Congregational church in 
1872 and his work was taken up by Rev. 
R. Redeoff in 1873, through whose efforts 
a church edifice was erected in 1874 and 
dedicated October 11, of that year. Mr. 



Redeoff was pastor of the church until 1877, 
when he removed to Rockford, Michigan, 
remaining there several years. Returning 
to Sherman in 1880, he resumed his pas- 
toral work and continued to serve the 
church for seventeen years, making twenty- 
one years' service in all. During his ab- 
sence the pulpit was filled by Rev. William 
P. Esler the first year and by Rev. J. W. 
Young the ne.xt two years. Mr. Young was 
ordained at Sherman July 2, 1878. The 
present pastor is Rev. A. Bentall, whose 
work commenced in October, 1899. Mr. 
Bentall was also ordained in the Shennan 
church in May, 1902. 

The Alethodist Episcopal church socie- 
ty was organized in 1870 and preaching ser- 
vices were held once in two weeks by Rev. 
Thomas Cayton. At the conference held 
that vear Rev. A. L. Thurston was assigned 
this work, often traveling sixteen miles 
through rain and snow, heat and cold, 
from his homestead in Selma township, to 
fill his appointments. The next year Rev. 
John Hall was designated as "supply" for 
the Sherman charge, and in 1872 the socie- 
tv secured its first resident minister. Rev. 
W. R. Stinchcomb. Preaching services 
were held each alternate Sunday in conjunc- 
tion with the Congregational society, first 
in the school house until the Congregational 
church was built, then in the church part of 
the time and a part of the time in the court 
house until the year 1881, when they built 
a house of worship. This was enlarged and 
somewhat remodeled in 1897, giving it a 
much greater seating capacity and greatly 
improving its appearance. 

When the village of Sherman was plat- 
ted there was no road to the west leading to 
the Fletcher grist-mill, as such a road 



272 



J VEX FORD COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



would require tlie bridging of the Manistee 
river, consccjuently tliose living on the south 
side of the river were obhged to come to 
Sherman and follow the state road nearly 
two miles north and then go west and south 
to the mill, making the trip nearly four 
miles longer than it would be if they could 
go directly west from Sherman. In 1872 
the board of supervisors made an appropria- 
tion to aid the construction of a bridge over 
the river west of the village and the new 
route to the grist-mill was opened up, much 
to the gratification of the settlers living 
south and east of Sherman. 

The constant increase of settlers in the 
county and the ever-increasing area of cul- 
tivated lands soon taxed the capacity of the 
little grist-mill on the Fletcher creek beyond 
its limit, and large quantities of grain had 
to be sent to Traverse City for milling. 
Several efforts were made by the people of 
Sherman to induce some one to put up a 
good gristing mill near that village, and 
finally a couple of gentlemen of Clam Lake, 
named Shackleton and Bennett, were in- 
duced to undertake the work. A suitable 
building was to be erected by the citizens of 
Sherman and donated to these gentlemen 
on condition that they would put in the nec- 
essary machinery and operate it. The mill 
was built in the fall of 1876, J. H. Wheeler 
having the contract for the building and the 
dam being put in by W. E. Dean and Daniel 
Baldwin. The machinery was furnished and 
placed in position by Butterworth & Lowe, 
of Grand Rapids. The mill was forty by 
fifty feet in size and three stories high, with 
a capacity of two hundred and fifty or three 
hundred bushels of grain per day. Under 
charge of Mr. Bamett. who was a practical 
miller, lia\-ing learned his trade in Scotland, 



the mill proved of inestimable value to the 
farmers, not only a large share of those in 
Wexford county, but a goodly number of 
those living in the southern tier of town- 
ships of Grand Traverse county and in the 
northeastern part of ALanistee county. 

Early in 1878 the mill burned down, 
which so discouraged the proprietors that 
they sold the property to L H. !\Iaqueston, 
who was just then closing out his mercantile 
business in the village preparatory to re- 
moving to the city of New York. This pur- 
chase changed his whole business career, as 
he commenced at once to Iniild the mill, 
putting up a better and more commodious 
structure than the one burned down and 
equipping it with the most improved appli- 
ances for a custom and merchant mill. He 
re-stocked his large store and was active 
and liberal in everything that tended to the 
development of the village and the farming 
interests surrounding it. One of the monu- 
ments to his memory and generosih* swings 
in the belfry of the Congregational church 
in .Sherman, being a fine bell, costing two 
hundred and fifty dollars, donated by him to 
the church. An untimely death overtook him 
in March, 1886. It was on Sunday and an 
alarm of fire had called out the villagers, the 
fire being in a house near the center of the 
village. Mr. IMaqueston energetically 
joined in the efforts to subdue the flames, 
which attempt in a short time proved .suc- 
cessful. He then went to his hotel for din- 
ner, after which he went to his store, as was 
his custom Sundjjy afternoons, for a nap. 
An hour or so later some one wishing to see 
him went to the store door and called to him, 
but without response. At length the door 
was forced open and he was found lying 
on one of the counters dead. The sad news 



WEXFORD COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



273 



.'■pread tlirough tlie village like wildfire and 
a throng of people hastened to the store to 
see for theiiiseh'es if the report was true. 
The shock was great to the community, and 
the loss equally so. The remains were sent 
to New York for burial, and as a mark of 
respect and keen sorrow, nearl}' the whole 
village followed the hearse to Manton, six- 
teen miles distant, where his lifeless form 
was taken on its last journey eastward. 

In 1887 an act was passed by the legis- 
lature granting a charter to the village, and 
the first village election was held on the 5tli 
day of May, 1887. One of the principal 
objects in securing the charter was to enable 
the village to issue bunds fur tlie purpose of 
securing the Toledo, Ann Arbor & Northern 
-Michig'an Railroad, which was then being 
pushed from Harrietta on to Frankfort. 
The bonds were issued and deli\-ered to the 
railroad company, but owing- to a decision 
of the supreme court of the state just prior 
to that time it found dilliculties in neg<.>tiat- 
ing them, and they were finally retiu"ned to 
the \illage authorities. The result was that 
the proposed "spur" was ne\er built, al- 
though it has appeareil on the county atlas 
for the past twelve years. The failure to 
get this railroad connection was another se- 
vere blow to Sherman, as it made possible 
the building up of another trading point, the 
village of Mesick, thus dividing the business 
which should have all gone to one town to 
have made it grow and prosper. 

B_\- a recent action of the \illage it has 
again voted to issue its bonds for fi\-e tluni- 
sand dollars with which to grade a street 
through the village. This has been done 
in the interests of the .Manistee & North- 
eastern Railroad, which now proposes to 
build a line running within the corporate 



limits of the village. If this plan succeeds 
Sherman will continue to be the largest 
\ illage in the northwestern part of the coun- 
ty, but will nc\er loe what it would ha\'e 
been had it secured connection with the Ann 
Arbor Railroad when that road first passed 
through the county. 

After the county seat left Sherman the 
court house was purchased by the school dis- 
trict and by a few changes was conxerted 
into a very convenient school building. The 
school attendance had increased to such an 
extent that it became necessary as early as 
1887 to employ three teachers, and in 1896 
it was formally made a graded school. The 
village now has a population of about fi\e 
hundred, has three large general stores, 
three hotels, two hardware stores, two drug 
stores, two blacksmith shops, two churches, 
one large floin-ing-mill, two grocery stores, 
besides a bank, a millinery store, saw and 
planing mill, saloon and other necessary 
adjuncts to a modern \illage. It is situated 
on the table land, some eighty or a hundred 
feet above the Manistee river, and is sur- 
rounded by one of the very best agricultural 
districts in the country. 

In 1897 the Ann Arbor Railroad built 
a spur (or rather the people of Sherman 
built it and presented it to the railroad com- 
pany) which came within a mile of Sherman 
to the west, where a little burg has sprung 
up sometimes called West Sherman, and 
sometimes Clagget\ ille, from Claggett, the 
name of the man in whose interests the sjjur 
was built, and wlu.i erected a large sta\e and 
heading mill, with dr\- kiln and storing 
sheds, the entire i)lant and yards cos'ering 
several acres of ground. This plant has al- 
ways been operated from Sherman, the pro- 
prietors and many oi the laborers lixing in 



274 



Py EX FORD COUNTY. MICHIGAN. 



that village. The place has grown to be a 
great shipping point for potatoes, wheat, 
lumber and logs, and all freight for Sher- 
man in car lots is unloaded at this point. 
The officials of the railroad are now contem- 
plating the erection of a station on this spur, 
so that all freight and railroad business for 
Sherman may be done there instead of go- 
ing to Mesick, nearly three miles distant. 

The first secret society organized in 
Sherman was Powhattan Tribe No. 12, Im- 
pro\e(l Order of Red Men. This was a be- 
nevolent and social organization, after- 
wards taking up the life insurance idea so 
prevalent now with nearly all secret orders. 
This tribe was instituted through the efforts 
of C. S. Marr, a young attorney who had 
then just entered uyjon the practice of law 
and had located in Sherman in the spring 
of 1876. The organization was perfected 
in May of that year and flourished for a 
nuinl)er of years, some of its members be- 
ing prominently identified with the great 
council of the state and the United States. 
One of its members, J. H. Wheeler, served 
one term as great sachem of the great coun- 
cil of the state and was representative of the 
state in the great council of the United 
States at three of its aiuiual sessions, one 
at Philadelphia, one at Atlantic City and 
one at Springfield, Illinois. 

This order took its name and much of 
its ritualistic work from the aborigines of the 
country, its officers being sachem, prophet, 
sagamore, chief of records, keeper of wam- 
pum, etc., its candidates for admission, 
])ale faces, and its members, warriors. Its 
ceremonial work was unic(ue and impressive, 
and was pronounced by those competent to 
judge as superior to that of many of the 
older orders. It is a little strange that a 



branch of such an order should not have 
succeeded in Sherman when the order at 
large has l)een constantly growing and 
counts its membership in the United States 
by the tens of thousands, but the average 
American is always looking for something 
new and novel and with the coming of the 
Grange, the Odd Fellows, the Masons and 
other secret orders the old love was cast ofi' 
for the new in many instances, and this, with 
the death and removal of some of the prom- 
inent workers in the tribe, caused its ranks 
to grow so thin that at last it resolved to 
surrender its charter, which it did in 
188S. 

The Patrons of Husbandry was the next 
order to establish a branch in Sherman, 
which was done in February, 1877. This 
branch was known as Sherman Grange Xo. 
632, and also had a large membership and 
regular attendance for a number of years, 
but at last, like its predecessor, the Red 
Men, it "folded its tents" and disappeared. 

Next came the Independent Order of 
Odd Fellows, under the title of Sherman 
]-odge Xo, 336, which was instituted in 
March. 1880. This lodge is still in a flour- 
ishing condition, and now has its auxiliary 
Rebekahs. The lodge owns its own hall and 
has a good membership. 

T. A. Ferguson Post Xo. 226. Grand 
Army of the Republic, was the next to per- 
fect an organization in Sherman, the date 
being March 4, 1884. The name has since 
been changed to "Abram I'inch I'osl." in 
honor of an old soldier whu located a home- 
stead on section 12. in Springxille townshij), 
and who ditd .'iboul the time the county was 
organized. As none but ex-soldiers of the 
war of the Rebellion can belong to this order 
its ranks are vearlv growing thinner and 



WEXFORD COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



275 



it too will ere long be but a memory. It lias 
been the inspiration of many observations 
of tbe beautiful Memorial tlay exercises of 
the order and for this alone its passing will 
sadden the hearts of the many who ha\e wit- 
nessed these heart-felt tributes to fallen 
comrades in arms. 

The work of instituting a lodge of Free 
and Accepted Masons was undertaken in 
1884 and a dispensation secured as the pre- 
liminary step to organization, which in due 
course of time was effected. It has bad a 
steady and continuous growth, notwith- 
standing the fact that the charter mem- 
bership was that much tabooed number thir- 
teen, and now has one hundred members in 
good standing. It owns the entire second 
story of the E. Gilbert store building, which 
is divided into lodge rooms, ante rooms, 
kitchen and dining room, all tastily fitted 
and well furnished. An auxiliary Eastern 
Star was organized several years ago and 
now has a membership of eighty-one. 

As the years passed organizations mul- 
tiplied and there is now Maqueston Tent 
Xo. 654. Knights of the Maccabees ; Our 
Choice Hive, Ladies of the Maccabees ; 
Sherman Lodge No. 212. Knights of 
Pythias; Sherman Camp No. 5514, Mod- 
ern Woodmen of America. For a number 
of years the Good Templars kept up an or- 
ganization, and the Woman's Christian 
Temperance L'^nion have for many years 
had an organization in the village and also 
a county organization. 

An old saying that "blessed be nothing" 
can well be quoted by Sherman just now. as 
it has no lawyer. While the county seat re- 
mained there it always had one, generally 
two and sometimes three lawyers, and they 
all lived, therefore the people had to sup- 



port them. Since the county seat was re- 
mo\'ed. the village has lieen without a law- 
yer most of the time, and there was very lit- 
tle litigation, for it took money and time to 
go to Cadillac to see a lawyer, and the time 
nearly always had such a cooling effect on 
the angry, would-be litigant, that his bet- 
ter manhood asserted itself, and thus many 
a law-suit was avoided and much useless ex- 
pense prevented. 

Of doctors there have nearly always 
been two for the past twenty years, and 
sometimes three or four; at the present time 
there are two : Dr. E. A. McManus and 
Dr. D. L. Rose. In other professional call- 
ings may be found S. Gasser, real estate 
dealer; R. D. b'rederick, insurance agent; 
J. H. Glover, photographer, and A. S. 
Moreland & Son, bankers. 

VILLAGE OF CLAM LAKE. 

The secimd \illage to lie started in the 
county was tbe village of Clam Lake. As 
previously stated, it was ' situated at the 
eastern end of Little Clam lake, from which 
it derived its name. The name of this lake 
has but recently been changed to Lake Cad- 
illac by act of the legislature. The village 
of Clam Lake was platted in July, 1872, 
since wdiich time there have been many addi- 
tions and subdivisions platted until now the 
city of Cadillac, a name adopted when the 
village became a city, covers nearly ten times 
as much territory as did the orignal plat. 
In fact if tbe lands attached to the city in 
1895 '^'J enalile it to build and control a road 
way or boule\-ard around the lake were tak- 
en into consideration, the area of the pres- 
ent city would be more than twenty-five 
times as great as was the original plat. 



276 



ly EX FORD COUNTY. MICHIGAN. 



In 1879 an addition was platted, called 
sub-division of outlots 5 and 6. Cohh and 
.Mitchell plaited their first addition in Au- 
gust. iNl^'o, and their sect)nd ami third addi- 
tiiins in September, 1881. May and Mitch- 
ell's addition was platted in Xovember, 1881, 
and in May Cummer and Ilaynes platted 
an addition. The next month three other 
plats were recorded, viz: A plat of the 
northwest quarter of section 3. township 
21 north, range 9 west; a plat of the south- 
west quarter of section 3, township 21 
north, range 9 west, and a plat of the north- 
cast quarter of section 33, township 22 
nortli, range 9 west. 

|. Cummer & Sons platted their first ad- 
dition in October. 1882, and in No\-ember, 
1SS3. an ad<lition was platted by Cummer 
and (icrish. Cob!) and Mitchell platted a 
fourth addition in .\pril, 1884, '"''^1 ^ V^'i'' 
from that time a plat of the subdivision of 
1)lock F in the original plat was recorded. 
This block 1^" had been left entire when the 
village was first platted and it was to be 
donated to the county, provided the county 
seat was removed to Cadillac. This was the 
same block so often mentii.med in resolu- 
tions presented to the board of supervisors, 
as will be seen by consulting the jiroceedings 
of that body. 

In 1886 another ])lat. subdividing block 
105 of the Cummer and Haynes addition, 
was filed. In July, 1888. C. K. Ru.ssell 
filed the ]ilat of the subdixision of outlot 14, 
and a couple of months later J. Cummer & 
Sons filed a ])lat of their second addition. 
In i8()i Johnson"'s addition was platted and 
in 1892 the plat of the sotUhcast (piarter of 
section 33, township 22 north, range 9 west, 
was filed. In June, 1893. the Improvement 
addition was i)latted and in August of the 



same year S. W. Kramer's addition was re- 
cortled. In November, 1893, another plat 
was recorded called Crawford's subdivision 
of block 7 of May and Mitchell's addition. 

January 30, 1894, J. Cummer & Sons 
platted their third addition. In March. 
1899, Pollard's subdivision of parts of 
blocks E and F of Cobb and ^Mitchell's sec- 
ond addition was platted and in the same 
month there was a plat filed called "Assess- 
ment Plat Number One," covering a large 
numlier of lots that had been sold by metes 
and bounds, not Ijeing in any of the numer- 
ous plats theretofore made. The plat of 
Diggins' first addition was filed in .\pril. 
1902, and in December of that year Chit- 
tenden and Wheeler platted an addition con- 
taining about one hundred and twenty lots, 
making twenty-six additions and subdivis- 
ions since the original plat was made, l>e- 
sides the addition secured through the leg- 
islatiu'e extending the city limits around the 
lake. 

The first effort to clear away any portion 
of the forests which covered the ground 
where the city of Cadillac now stands was 
for the building of camps used in the con- 
struction of the extension of the Grand 
Rapids & Indiana Railroad. Col. J. C. 
1 ludnutt was the railroad company's civil 
engineer at that time and when he was or- 
dered to swing around the eastern end of 
Little Clam lake, instead of passing Ijetween 
the two lakes, as was first intended, be con- 
cluded that it meant the building of a town 
at that point. With this idea in view, he 
decided to buy any or all land bordering 
on the eastern shore of the Lake and I'or this 
purpose he started for the government land 
office, then located at Traverse City, in the 
fall of 1 87 1, to ascertain what there was 



IfEXFORD COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



277 



in tliat locality tliat could be purcliased. The 
only road to Traverse City then was the 
State road, running through Sherman, and 
as the stage was the only conveyance it took 
two days to make the trip from the northern 
end of the railroad, which was then just 
this side of Big Rapids, to the land oiYice. 
The Colonel stopped over night in Sher- 
man and in conversation with some i:)f the 
business men of that village casually re- 
marked that he was on his way to 
the United States land ofTlce "to buy a 
city." I. II. Mequeston, one of Sher- 
man's first merchants, boarded at the 
hotel antl. o\erhearing this remark of tlie 
Colonel's, adroitly drew out the facts that 
the "city" was yet in embryo, but that it 
was to be built on the eastern shore of the 
Little Clam lake, so while the Colonel was 
enjoying a much needed night's rest, Mr. 
]Ma(|ueston started for Traverse City, where 
he arri\ed in the middle of the night. How 
he found the residence of the register of the 
land office or hrnv much he gave him to 
leave his warm bed and go to the land office 
at that unseemly hour of the night will 
probably always remain a mystery, as both 
have been dead for many years, but certain 
it is that when Col. Hudnutt reached the 
land office the next day he discovered the 
fact that government lots i, 3 and 5 of sec- 
tion 4. in Clam Lake township, or ratlier 
what is now Clam Lake township, had been 
sold to L. J. Clark and I. H. Maqueston, 
of Sherman. This was the land upon which 
the original village of Clam Lake was plat- 
ted. The village has now become the city 
of Cadillac, so that Mr. Hudnutt's facetious 
remark about Ijuying- a city, proved the truth 
of the old adage that "many a truth is spok- 
en in jest." Messrs. Clark and Macjueston 



sokl their "city" purchase to George A. 
Mitchell, who soon alter platted it into the 
village of Clam Lake. 

Even liefore the ,'irri\al of the first regu- 
lar train, which w'as on J'elirnary 20, 1872, 
and months before the village was platted, 
there began to be evidences of a village. Rude 
log houses and hotels were constructed, the 
first hotel being the Clam Lake House, sit- 
uated near where the Ann Arbor dqiot now 
stands. Another large log hotel, known as 
the Mason House, was commenced late in 
the fall of 1 87 1 and was nightly filled with 
travelers liefore the cracks between the 
.logs had been sufficiently "chinked" and 
"mossed" to keep out the snow. Beds and 
even cots for the nightly crowds were out 
of the question, and it was sometimes hard 
to secure room to lie on the floor and sleep. 

It is said that with the crowds came the 
saloon and that the first establishmait of the 
kind consisted of a barrel of whisky and 
the top of a pine stump sawed off square on 
which to set the glasses and bottles, but 
when it is remembered that there was then 
a prohibitory liquor law upon our statute 
books, it is quite doubtful that the law was 
so openly defied as this would indicate. 

The writer drove over from Sherman to 
make the first arrests in the new burg for 
violation of the Ii(juor law. This was early 
in 1872, when the Mason House was yet 
unfinished, and he bad to sleep on its bare 
floor. In the morning he looked up the 
two places complained of, one of which 
stood on the ground now included in the 
city park and the other near the present site 
of the Michigan Iron Works. He found no 
evidences of liquor selling, yet the parties 
were convicted of the offense, the proof 
showing that the work of selling had been 



278 



WEXFORD COUNTY. MICHIGAN. 



slyly instead of openly done, which leads 
him to believe that the "pine stump and bar- 
rel of wliisky" story is considerably o\'er- 
drawn. 

The first saw-mill was built by a I\Ir. 
Yale in the fall of 1871, the site being near- 
ly the same as that now occupied by what is 
desiijnated as Cobbs and Mitchell's little 
mill. 

A postofiice was established in January, 
1872. with John S. McClain as postmaster. 
His successors have been as follows, in the 
order named : H. F. May, Byron Ballon, 
J. A. Whitmore, J. Nixon, James Crowley, 
P.yron Ballou, L. J. Law and S. J. Wall, 
who is now serving his second term. The 
office passed into the presidential class in 
1878 and become a second-class office in 
1 88 1. Free delivery service was inavigu- 
rated in 1901. The present force in the em- 
ploy of the government in the ofiice is Post- 
master Wall, Assistant A. V. Harmer. who 
fills the position of money order and regis- 
try clerk. Mailing Clerk Judd Miller, a de- 
li\ery and stamp clerk, an assorting antl se])- 
arating clerk and three carriers, besides one 
substitute carrier whose work depends upon 
the sickness or disability of the regular car- 
riers. The salaries paid are as follows : 
Postmaster, $2,400, assistant postmaster, 
$1,000, mailing clerk, $900, delivery and 
separating clerks, $700 each, carriers, $850 
each, making a total of $8,250, besides the 
extra compensation to the substitute car- 
rier. The total receipts of the oftice for the 
quarter ending March 31, 1903, was $3,- 
890.56. Under directions from the post- 
office de])artment, all mails received and dis- 
l)atched for seventy days ending May 12, 
1903, \vere weighed, the tot.d weight for 
that time being 67,947 pounds, which did 



not include the mail deposited for local de- 
livery or that sent out on the daily and tri- 
weekly star routes which run out from the 
city in three difYerent directions. 

In giving the history of the early days 
of Clam Lake (now Cadillac) no more re- 
liable source of information can be found 
than the files of the local newspaper, there- 
fore we shall quote liberally from the first 
issue of the Clam Lake News, the first news- 
paper to be published in the village. The 
paper was founded in 1872 by C. L. Frazier. 
Later S. S. P'allass became interested finan- 
cially in the paper and was an editorial con- 
tributor. It was afterwards sohl to J. .\. 
& O. Whittemore. In 1878 it was under 
the management of Rice & Chapin and in 
1881 Mr. Terwilliger took Mr. Rice's place 
as one of the managers and in the latter part 
of that year it was entirely under the man- 
agement of Mr. Chapin. In 1882 J. W. 
Giddings succeeded to the management of 
the paper. Mr. Giddings having l>een 
elected to the state senate, the ownership of 
the News went into the hands of the News 
Publishing Company. C. T. Chapin, after 
severing his connection wjth Ihe News, 
formed a partnership with Mr. Sill and 
started the Saturday Express, the first num- 
ber appearing in December, 1886. In the 
following May this paper consolidated with 
the News and the paper was thenceforth 
known as the News and Express. The new 
l)aper remained in the hands of the News 
Publishing Company until December i, 
1897, when the present publisher, Hon. 
Perry I", l^owers, became the owner. It 
was started as a six-column folio, later en- 
larged to a six-column quarto and is now a 
seven-column cpiarto and has a daily edi- 
tion in its second volume. It has always 



WEXFORD COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



279 



been a strong advocate of Republican prin- 
ciples and a supporter of Repnbbcan candi- 
dates, except on one occasion when it sup- 
ported the nominee of the Demo-Greenljack 
party for member of the house of represent- 
atives in the state legislature, but as this was 
solely on account of county-seat matters, 
the candidate being a resident of the village 
of Clam lake, it had some excuse for the 
position it took in that campaign. 

It may be well in this connection to 
briefly note the other newspaper ventures 
that have been started in the village and city 
since the starting of the News in 1872. The 
first to make its appearance was the Daily 
Enterprise, launchetl in the summer of 
1880. It had not much excuse for an exist- 
ence at that time except the one object of 
creating sentiment favorable to the removal 
of the county seat to Cadillac, but it soon 
found that a newspaper of one idea was a 
difficult thing to interest the people with 
and consequently it was not very long lived. 

The next paper to make its appearance 
was the Cadillac Weekly Times, which 
made its first bow to the people of Wexford 
county in June, 1882, under the manage- 
ment of A. Rindge. At first it was a seven- 
column folio, but in a few months was en- 
larged to a seven-column quarto. The paper 
was soon afterwards merged into the Mich- 
igan State Democrat, a paper that had been 
started in Detroit by M. T. Woodmff, who 
transferred it to Cadillac. In December, 
1 89 1, it was purchased by its present owner, 
George S. Stanley. As its name indicates, 
it has always been Democratic in politics 
and has lalxjred zealously for its party. Its 
owner has been nominated for various coun- 
ty and city offices and was once elected may- 
or of the city. He is thoroughly alive to the 



interests of his home city and is an earnest 
and active worker in everything that tends 
to its growth and prosperity. 

The Wexford County Citizen maile its 
appearance in August, 1884. If was edited 
and published by H. M. Enos and printed in 
the job office of C. T. Chapin. It only lived 
about nine months and was not much missed 
when it was discontinued. 

The Arbitaren made its advent in 
March, 1890. It was a weekly paper pul)- 
lished exclusively for Scandinavian readers 
by C. E. Thornmark and printed in the 
State Democrat office. After about four 
years of existence in Cadillac it was re- 
moved to Grand Rapids, but still supplied 
its Cadillac readers for some time after its 
removal. 

The Cadillac Globe was launched in the 
newspaper field in September, 1898, by J. 
M. Terwilliger. Two years later Mr. Ter- 
williger took in a partner, R. W. Craw- 
ford, and the paper is still managed by them. 
In the spring of 1901 they started a daily 
edition, which they continued to publish for 
about a year, finally selling their interests 
in the daily to the publishers of the Daily 
News. The Globe has never taken a very 
active part in politics, being rather neutral 
in that line, though leaning to the Demo- 
cratic side of the fence. It has a good cir- 
culation and a good advertising patronage 
and is no small factor in the ui)building and 
onwanl progress of the city. 

We will go back now to the first issue 
of the Clam Lake News, which was on the 
first day of June, 1872. The village was 
\ery new then, which may have had some- 
thing to do wit'i the naming of the paper the 
News, for there was not a superabundance 
of matter out of which to put up a good 



280 



WEXFORD COUXTY, MICHIGAN. 



newsy paper; nevertheless its first issue was 
a notal)le one, being the initiatory step in a 
career that has brought success to its pub- 
lisher and a worthy record lor itself. In 
that first issue its editor gave an extended 
review and summary of the \illage, which we 
quote at length : 

"But little more than seven months 
since, the place where the village of Clam 
Lake now stands was but a dense forest and 
the \oice of a human being w^as seldom 
heard. The site being on the Grand Rapids 
& Indiana Railroad, upon the banks of one 
(^f the most beautiful lakes in Michigan and 
a proper distance from large places on 
either side, the spot was selected as a desir- 
able place for a town. George A. Mitchell, 
the original prime mover and proprietor of 
the village plat, commenced operating here 
sometime in October last. Since that time 
he has been an earnest and faithful worker 
in the interests of the place. The liberal 
spirit which he has manifested in all his 
dealings has won for him many warm 
friends. The village plat covers about eigh- 
ty acres of ground. It torders on the west 
and commands a beautiful view of Little 
(."lam lake. The railroad divides the town 
into two nearly equal parts and the depot 
is situated in the most central jxjrtion. 

"The \illage now contains about one 
hundred and twenty-live families and a pop- 
ulation (if upwards of six hundred actual 
settlers. The lakes called the Little and Big 
Glam cover an area of about eight square 
miles; the distance intervening between the 
two is about sixty rods. The channel be- 
tween the lakes is from two to five feet 
deep and from one to two rods wade. The 
work of clearing it of logs and old rubbish 
is now progressing and when opened it will 



be naxigable for steamers of considerable 
size and will be very convenient for floating 
logs that may eventually come from the 
Big Lake and through this channel to the 
mills. These lakes abound largely witli ex- 
cellent varieties of fish and the country 
around with wild game, affording a grand 
field for hunting and fishing. The land bor- 
dering on these lakes and for several miles 
around is covered with a heavy growth of 
pine that will l>e tributary to them and here 
worked into lumber. 

"The capacity of the mills now^ in opera- 
tion and the two large ones soon to start will 
be about four million feet per month. At 
this rate it is estimated that it will take fif- 
teen years to consume the pine. Taking this 
into consideration, the pleasant locality for a 
town, and the excellent farming lands in 
the vicinity that will be tributary to the place 
and support it when the pine is gone, you 
may judge for yourself what the future of 
Clam Lake will be. We make mention of 
the following more important places of busi- 
ness : 

"S.\w ]\riLi.s — The mills that are now in 
successful operation are those of J. R. Hale 
and Slinger & Company; the first named, 
the Pioneer mill, has been running some fi\e 
or six months. It is now being finished up 
in good sha])e, some new' and much-needed 
machinery has been added and is now 
capable of cutting about twenty-five thou- 
sand feet per day. The latter. Slinger iK: 
Company's new and improved portable mill, 
is doing a good business, with a capacity of 
about twenty-five thou.sand feet per day. 
The above named mills are both under the 
management of Mr. Lydle, who has been 
doing everything in his power to sui)])ly the 
great demand for luiiiber. 



IV EX FORD COUNTY. MICHIGAN. 



281 



"The new mills of Shockleton & Green 
and Harris Brothers are expected to be 
ready to start by the middle of this month 
and when completed will be a credit to the 
town and to the builders. The first named 
is thirty by ninety-six feet, two stories high, 
and a boiler house fourteen by thirty-six 
feet. There are two boilers, eighteen feet 
long and forty-four inches in diameter. The 
cylinder is fourteen inches in diameter and 
twenty-four inch stroke. It will contain 
one large circular with top saw and gang 
edger. It is expectetl to be capable of cut- 
ting forty thousand feet per day. ^Messrs. 
Shockleton cSc Green are energetic business 
men and every part of their mill is built in 
a substantial and business-like manner. 

"Harris Bros.' mill, which is also expect- 
ed to be ready for operation by the middle of 
this month, will, when completed, compare in 
every respect with anj- mill in northern 
Michigan. The main building is thirty-six 
by one hundred and fifteen feet, two stories 
high, and attached to this is a boiler house 
twenty-eight by fifty feet, which is to con- 
tain three large boilers twenty feet long and 
four feet in diameter. The cylinder is 
twenty inches in diameter and forty-eight 
inch stroke. The capacity of the engine will 
be one hundred and fifty horse power to six- 
ty pounds of steam. This mill will have one 
large circular, a gang of forty saws and one 
edger with three saws. It will contain all 
the latest and most improved laljor-saving 
machinery and neither time nor money will 
be spared to make it a first-class mill. Capt. 
Silas Pelton, of Grand Rapids, has had full 
charge of the mill from the beginning and 
his work proves him to be a man of much 
mechanicMl skill and ingenuity. 

"]\Ierc.\xtile Est.\blishme!nts — 



Among the most important of which we 
would make special note is that of Messrs. 
Holbrook & May, who keep a well-selected 
stock of everything in the line of dry goods, 
groceries and provisions. They are ener- 
getic business men and are having a lively 
trade, which they well deserve. The next of 
importance is the general hardware store of 
\V. Fl. -Hicks & Company. They keep a 
first-class stock and propose to sell at Grand 
Rapids prices. Mr. Hicks is a young man 
of energy and ability antl is deserving of 
patronage. Messrs. Cornwell & Labor have 
a large store in Messrs. Mosser & White's 
building, well stocked with flour, feed, gro- 
ceries and provisions. They are having a 
good trade. L. Ballou, on Mason street, 
also dealer in flour, feed and groceries and 
provisions, is doing a lively business. He is 
a young man of good business tact and is 
bound to succeed. Mr. Bunyen, on Lake 
street, keeps a good line of groceries and 
provisions. He was among the first set- 
tlers in the place and is deserving of patron- 
age. Messrs. Sanders & Morrow are large 
dealers in dry goods and groceries. Messrs. 
Russell & \Vliite have opened a meat market 
on Lake street and their stock is new and 
fresh from Grand Rapids every day. Dr. 
Leeson has his drug store in successful op- 
eration. Mr. Studley has opened a first- 
class restaurant on Mason street. Messrs. 
Reed & Ferris have a large black.smith shop 
and are doing a prosperous business. D. 
F. nmal has a boot and shoe shop on Ma- 
son street. 

"We have at present four hotels, all of 
which are doing a prosperous business. The 
Mason House, so well known to the public, 
is being thoroughly overhauled. The rooms 
are all being newly ceiled, i)apcred and fin- 



282 



WEXFORD COUXTY, MICHIGAN. 



islied in the most comfortable manner. The 
walls, which are now known to be made of 
logs, are to l)e sided on the outside so that 
it will appear to be a log building no more. 
Mr. Mason is a pleasant and obliging land- 
lord and is ready to do anything for the 
comfort and entertainment of all who are 
so fortunate as to stop with him. He has 
placed on the lake for the entertainment of 
his guests a fine pleasure boat that is truly 
delightful to ride in. The tables are spread 
with the very best the market affords and 
everything presents a tidy and tasty ap- 
pearance. The American Hotel, on Mitch- 
ell street, nearly opposite the depot on the 
east, quite recently opened, presents a fine 
appearance and is acknowledged by every 
one as having first-class accommodations. 
The building is thirty by sixty feet and two 
stories high. Messrs. Teller & Parks, pro- 
prietors of the Clam Lake House, are still 
occupying their old quarters on Lake street. 
Their new building on Mitchell street is now 
enclosed and will soon be ready for occu- 
pancy. When finished it will be the largest 
;uid dccidcflly the handsomest building in 
tciwn. 

"Messrs. Sanders & Walker have pur- 
chased the new l)nilding of Bremyer Broth- 
ers and ai:e putting in a stock of groceries 
and provisions. Abbott & Turner have 
opened their new store on Mason street, 
having a good line of groceries and confec- 
tioneries. Larcom & Motts have their new 
building on Lake street inclosed and when 
it is finished it is to be occupied i)\- llicni fur 
;i fruit ruid \egetable store. Lanil) & Cole 
lia\c erected a new building on Mitchell 
street. They intend putting in groceries 
and proxisions. Dr. Dillenback has the 
fr;une up t'i>r his new drug store on Mitch- 



ell street. Mr. Bunyea, on ^litchell street, 
is enclosing his large building to lie used for 
groceries. Mr. Born has recently purchased 
the building occupied by Mr. Tracy for a 
dwelling and is fitting it up for a dry goods, 
boot and shoe store. Mr. Kirkbride is put- 
ting on the finishing tnuch to his new fur- 
niture rooms on Harris street, in which you 
may expect to see a full line of furniture. 
C. B. Earl is making ready to lay the foun- 
dation of a large store on Mason street im- 
mediately east of the railroad, in which he 
projxjses to keep for sale sash, doors, blinds, 
glass, paints, oils, etc. Mr. \'aughn has 
purchased of R. P. Thurber the large store 
and boarding house block which is to be 
painted outside and the rooms now occupied 
for a boarding house are to have a genera! 
overhauling and to be fitted up in the most 
improved manner. The number of new 
buildings that are being- erected each week 
would have to be reckoned by the dozen. 

"A lot has been selected and given by 
Mr. Mitchell for the erection of a school 
building. It covers one whole block, lying 
on an elcvatiini commanding a most beau- 
tiful view (if the town. The contract has 
been let for the building of a temporary 
house to be used for a .sea.son. when a build- 
ing is to be erected that will be an ornament 
to the village. The Presbyterian and Meth- 
odist societies have selected lots, which have 
been given by Mr. Mitchell for church pur- 
poses. iV movement is already on foot to 
build suitable edifices for public worship." 

This is indeed a pretty gocxl showing for 
a \illage less than a year old. No wonder 
tli;it the editor goes into raptures over the 
beauty and grandeur of the scene. Xo one 
who has not gazed upon a l)eautiful, mir- 
ror-like k'ike. surrounded b\- .m unbroken 



t VEX FORD COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



283 



forest of tall pines and picturesque cedars 
and Iiemlocks, can form anything like a cor- 
rect idea of the picture afforded the early 
settlers in the \illage of Clam Lake. It 
seems almost sacrilege that such beauty of 
scenery should have had to yield before the 
insatiable maw of the woodman's ax and the 
saw-mill's glittering teeth, but the marts of 
commerce have no sentiment or romance, and 
nature's loveliness must be yielded up to the 
demands of business, and the glory of her 
forests and the grandeur of its solitudes 
must be laid waste that man may reap for- 
tunes out of what it has taken her centuries 
to produce. If the denuded lands had been 
turned into waving wheat fields there would 
have seemed to be some recompense for the 
ruthless slaughter of the forests, but to see 
the vast areas of lands covei-ed with noth- 
ing but stumps and a stuliby growth of 
bushes, makes one wish that the task of 
cutting away the great forests of pine had 
been much less rapidly done, so that the 
present and future generations could have 
had a glimpse of their royal l^eauty and 
sublimity. But how useless it is to moralize. 
In looking over the foregoing extract 
from the News we find that a few, a very 
few, of the names therein mentioned are 
still familiarly known in Cadillac — the city 
to which the village of Clam Lake has 
grown. J^r. Leeson is still doing business 
in the city, and. though not the owner of a 
drug store, is engaged in the manufacture 
of "Tiger "Oil," a medicine of well recog- 
nized merits which has found a way into 
nearly every state in the Union. The Doc- 
tor can boast of being a charter member of 
two organizations which will d6ubtless re- 
main as long as the city continues to exist. 
One is the Methodist Episcopal church and 



the other the Independent Order of Odd 
Fellows. He is hale and hearty and may 
be seen almost any summer day going to or 
returning from his farm, situated two miles 
out of the city. Mr. Cornwell, mentioned in 
the items quoted relative to Cornwell & La- 
bar, is still in the same business as then, the 
firm name now being J. Cornwell & Sons. 
Mr. Labar severed his connection with the 
firm some eight or ten years ago, moved to 
the southern part of the state and has since 
gone to his long rest. Mr. Harris, of the 
firm of Harris Brothers, long years ago re- 
tired from the mill business and now lives 
in a modest home on the street bearing his 
name. His lx)wed form and whitened locks 
are frequently seen on the streets, and 
though not engaged in business, he will re- 
count the struggles and triumphs of an early 
lousiness life in the village of Clam Lake 
with a great deal of zest to any one who 
wishes to question him about the early days 
in the history of the village. Mr. Born is 
still an active business man of the city, his 
chief occupation being that of moving build- 
ings from place to place or raising them and 
putting under new foundations. Of the 
many others named in this article, some are 
dead, many entirely forgotten, some doing 
business in other states and other sections 
of this state, and one — Dr. Dillenbeck — is 
an inmate of the Northern Michigan Insane 
Asylum, where he has been for some twelve 
or fifteen years. 

At the conclusion of its first volume the 
News published a review of the year. In 
this review mention is made of the burning 
of the first brick made in the village and 
also of the erection of the Haynes planing 
mill. This was built by the father of the 
present owners. It has been greatly enlarged 



284 



WEXFORD COUNT y. MICHIGAN. 



and capacity increased until it is now one 
of the best equipped mills of the kind north 
of Grand Rapids. One item mentions the 
fact that "on the extreme south of the vil- 
lage is the mill owned by J. W. Cobbs, a fine 
mill for its size, and doing a very handsome 
business. Its capacity is about thirty-five 
thousand feet per day." 

Some years later Mr. Cobbs associated 
himself with Mr. Mitchell, the firm being 
known as Cobbs & Mitchell. Their mill 
property was enlarged and later a second 
mill was erected, the two having been in 
constant operation from that time until the 
present, with timber enough in sight to last 
twelve or fifteen years. Their timber now 
comes mostly from Charlevoi.x county, 
where they have large tracts of the finest 
hardwood and hemlock lands in the state, 
with a sprinkling of pine intermixed. Their 
output is now nearly all hemlock and hard- 
wood, the latter being sold in the finished 
product of maple flooring, to manufacture 
which they have here one of the largest 
maple-flooring plants in the world. 

The Methodists and Presbyterians each 
erected church buildings in i^^y^i' 'i" \^en\ 
in the News of June 7, 1873, reading as fol- 
lows : "A little less than four weeks ago 
the first work was done on the Methodist 
Episcopal church, yet last Sunday's serv- 
ices were held there and will continue to 
be in the future." In September a new bell 
was put in the tower of the church. It 
weighed five hundred pounds and cost one 
hundred and twenty-five dollars. In 1888 
the society commenced the erection of its 
present brick edifice, and in December, 1889, 
the dedicatory services were held. The new 
structure cost about eight thousand dollars. 
The society now has a membership of about 



three hundred, has a large Sunday school, 
an Epworth League, a Woman's Home and 
Foreign Missionary Society and is in excel- 
lent condition financially. Its present pas- 
tor, Rev. E. A. Armstrong, is serving his 
fourth year. Touching the earlier history 
of this society, it is related that the first serv- 
ice held in the village of Clam Lake was in 
the evening of December 10, 1871, and the 
society was organized in 1872 by Rev. A. 
L. Thurston, the total membership at that 
time being seven; one of the charter mem- 
bers. Dr. J. Leeson, still has his name on the 
church books and is an active worker for 
the cause he has so long labored for. 

The First Presbyterian church was or- 
ganized in 1872 through the efforts of Rev. 
John Redpath. This society also built a 
church in 1873. A recent fire damaged the 
building to such an extent that services 
therein have been discontinued and at a 
recent meeting of the society it was decided 
to build a new house of worship this year 
at a cost of about twenty thousand dollars. 
The growth of the society recently had 
shown that a larger church building was 
needed and this work will now be hastened 
in consequence of the fire. The present 
pastor. Rev. .\. \V. Jnhustouc, Ph. D.. is 
now serving his tenth year in the pulpit, 
which is ample evidence of the esteem in 
which he is held by his parishioners. The 
church has the usual auxiliary societies and 
a well attended Sunday school. 

It was not until the year 1882 that the 
Congregationalists made an effort to organ- 
ize a society in the village. The work was 
accomplished through Rev. C. H. Beals, and 
in January. 1883, a society consisting of 
thirty members was organized. The first 
board of trustees was composed of Jacob 



WEXFORD COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



285 



Cummer, N. L. Gerish, J. G. Mosser, E. F. 
Sawyer and 1". H. Messmore. In the sum- 
mer of that year a church edifice was erected 
and dedicated December 14, 1883. A par- 
sonage was also built that year, the com- 
bined cost of the buildings being eight thou- 
sand five hundred dollars. An annex was 
built in 1884 for kindergarten purposes and 
since that time, through the liberality of Mr. 
and Mrs. W. W. Cummer, a free kindergar- 
ten has been maintained. The church now 
has a membership of one hundred and sixty- 
nine, has a large Sunday school, a Junior 
Endeavor society, a Ladies Aid and Home 
and Foreign Missionary society. The pres- 
ent pastor, Re\-. F. M. Hollister, succeecletl 
l\e\-. N'. S. r>ra(lJev, who had ser\cd the 
society from the summer of 1895 uiitil his 
resignation in 1901 to accept a call from 
Saginaw. 

The Free Methodists organized a society 
in the summer of 1875, through the work of 
Re\-. L. D. Russell, and a church building 
was erected the same year largely through 
his efforts. There are now about fifty mem- 
bers and they liaxc a well-attended Sunday 
schn,,l. 

A Swedish Evangelical Lutheran church 
was organized in 1874 and a church build- 
ing started in 1876, but was not dedicated 
until 1882. It has a very large membership, 
one of the largest Sunday schools in the city, 
a Ladies society, the Willing Workers, 
composed of girls under fifteen years of age, 
the Sorosis society, the Men's Aid society 
and the Little Boys' society. Besides these 
tliev ha\'e a semi-monthly gathering of all 
the young people of the church, at which 
religious and literary programs of interest 
are rendered. The present pastor. Rev. Carl 
A. Tolin, has served the congregation since 



the summer of 1899, succeeding the Rev. 
N. Gibson, who had labored seven years for 
the society. 

A Baptist society was organized in 1876, 
but several years passed before a church 
building was erected. In 1883 the Swedish 
members of the society, about one-half of 
the total membership, withdrew for the pur- 
pose of organizing a Swedish Baptist 
church. This somewhat crippled the parent 
church for a time, but it soon recovered the 
lost ground and is now in a thriving condi- 
tion. 

The Swedish Baptist church was organ- 
ized on the 23d of June, 1883, with a mem- 
bership of twenty-nine. In 1S88 a church 
was built under the pastorate of Rev. Erick- 
son. The membership now numbers nearly 
one hundred and fifty, with a largely at- 
tended Sunday school. 

The St. Ann's Catholic church was or- 
ganized in 1881 and through the efforts of 
the first resident priest. Rev. Milligan, the 
church building, which for some time had 
been in process of construction, was com- 
pleted in 1883. The present priest. Rev. 
L. M. Prud'homme, last year interesteil his 
parishioners in the matter of building a new 
brick church and the work was at once be- 
gun, and with systematic effort will te ac- 
complished the present summer, when they 
will have one of the finest houses of wor- 
ship in the city. 

The Swedish Mission church is an in- 
stitution of the fatherland, having been 
started in Sweden some twenty-five years 
ago. In almost every Swedish commun- 
ity of any considerable size in this country 
may be found a Swedish Evangelical Mis- 
sion church. A church was organized in 
this city in 1880 and in 1882 a church Imild- 



286 



WEXFORD COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



ing was erected. Tlie cluircli lias a mem- 
liersliip of about one liuiulred and tifty, a 
Sunday school with over one hundred mem- 
bers and is in a flourisliing condition. The 
doors of the church are i:)pen nearly every 
evening in the year, where any one, Ije he 
resident or transient, ma}- find welcome and 
friends. 

In August, 1884. a German Evangeli- 
cal Lutheran Immanuel church was organ- 
ized. The society as yet has no church 
building, but services are regularly held at 
the parsonage. The present pastor. Paul 
C. Noffze, has ministered to the church since 
1899. 

The Sexenth Day Adventists had a 
few members here for years, and during 
the summer of 1899 an extra effort was 
made to increase their membership. So 
well did they succeed that in the fall of that 
year they decided to purchase a building 
for church purposes and they now own the 
building form^^ly known as the Sahation 
Army barracks. 

There are those who have religious be- 
liefs differing from anv of these denomi- 
nations here mentioned, li\ing in the city, 
but none of sufficient numbers to be al)le 
to form societies. Perhaps the most num- 
erous in this respect are those who believe 
in the Christian Science idea. Services 
are regularly held by these adherents on 
the second floor of the State Bank building. 
The Latter Day Saints also have regular 
weekly services. 

PUBLIC SCHOOLS. 

The first school in the village of Clam 
Lake was in the spring of 1872 in a Imild- 
ing owned by Mosscr & White, /v frac- 



tional district had been organized from parts 
of C!lam Lake and Haring townships, and 
in June of that sailie year a small buiUling 
had been erected on the square donated by 
Mr. Mitchell for school purposes. The 
school census taken in September of that 
year gave the number of children of school 
age — between fi\-e and twenty years — at one 
hundred and five. The fall and winter terms 
following were taught by C. L. Frazier, with 
Miss Nettie Brink as assistant. An addi- 
tion to the school building was built in 1S73 
and the spring term opened with George 
Addison as principal and Miss Born as as- 
sistant. Rev. W. L. Tilden, the Methodist 
Episcopal i)astor, taught the winter term of 
1873-4. In 1874 the school was under the 
management of \V. A. Fallass, who came 
from Lowell, Michigan. 

With the constant increase of population 
the need of more school room became an 
absolute necessity and in the summer of 
1876 a new buikling was erected. This 
building was twenty-eight by sixty-two 
feet in size and two stories high, each 
floor being divided into two rooms. The 
cost of the building above the foundation 
was three thousand six hundred dollars, ex- 
clusive of the seats and desks, which were 
of the "Triumph" patent, being the first 
introduction of the patent seats and desks 
in the county. The first term in the new- 
building was under the professorship of 
M. ,S. Groesbeck, who had for his assistants 
Miss Hattie Caswell and Miss Carrie Sip- 
ley. Mr. Groesbeck continued in charge for 
two years, his successor behig Prof. F. C. 
Pifcr. wilt I remained but one year, being 
succeeded l)y Prof. H. M. Enos. 

In the meantime it had been found neces- 
sarv to make additions to the school build- 



WEXFORD COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



287 



ing, the original rooms now becoming so 
overcrowded that it was impossible to seat 
the increasing number of scholars seeking 
admission. The erection of a larger school 
Imilding was seen to be an absolute necessity 
in the near future and the matter was ab- 
ruptly forced upon the school board by the 
destruction of the school building by fire in 
the winter of 1880. During the summer 
of 1881 a new and much larger building was 
erected, which was thought to have suffi- 
cient capacity to meet the growing needs of 
the city for many vears to come. l)ut in a 
few years it was found necessary to provide 
ward buildings, which have been added from 
time to time until each ward has a school 
house of its own. Fire again destroyed the 
central school building in 1S90. when the 
present commodious brick structure was 
erected, which is as line a school l)uilding 
as can be found anywhere north of Grand 
Ixapids. 

Professor Enos was succeeded by A. A. 
Hall in 1885 and a year later Prof. A. S. 
Hall was engaged and continued in charge 
of the school for three years. In the fall 
of 1889 Prof. E. P. Church was engaged 
and his services were so satisfactory that 
lie was kept for four years. Prof. George 
R. Catton succeeded Mr. Church and he'd 
the position for three years. Prof. J. H. 
Kaye succeded Mr. Catton in 1896 and has 
continued in charge of the schools until Ihe 
present time. 

The whole num])cr of cliildren of school 
age in the city is nineteen hundred and thir- 
ty-one and the number attending school for 
a period of three months during the last 
school year was eighteen hundred and sixty. 
The number of teachers employed the pres- 
ent year is thirty-four, not counting a music 



teacher or Professor Kaye. There was 
spread upon the tax rolls of the city last 
year for school purposes the sum of $19,- 
693.00 and the sum of $5,269.50 was re- 
ceived from the state primary school fvmd. 
The first and fourth ward school buildings 
will soon be replaced with new and larger 
ones, as the buildings are now overcrowded. 

At the commencement exercises in 1903 
the graduates numbered twenty-nine, which, 
with one exception, was the largest class 
ever graduated, the exception being the class 
of 1902, which numbered thirty. The names 
of the graduates are as follows : Georgia 
E. Jackson, Olivia May Johnson, Kate Hel- 
len Ballon, Bessie L. Troutman, Clyde A. 
Saunders, Frank Morris fTecox, Susan A. 
Florer, Winnie Alice Kaiser, Chas. V. Crom- 
well, Edna Sayles Law, Amaryllis M. Cote;,% 
Corinne W. Foster, Essie May Bland, Grace 
Ellen Spencer, Helen Amanda Kelley, Doug- 
las Campbell, Arthur V. Gibson, Audrey 
I'. Dillenbeck, Gene Lulu Romig, Henry P. 
Grund, Bessie Hodges. Elida K. McGillis, 
M. \'eronica Murray, Rosalie L. Kelleher, 
Aland M. Carpenter, Genia Belle Torrey, 
Archibald Thomson, Oscar Abel Peterson 
and William F. Campbell. 

The first one in the list graduated from 
the classical and also from the Latin courses ; 
the next six from the Latin; the next six 
from the scientific ; the next four from the 
English preparatory antl the last twehe 
from the English. 

The first doctor and druggist in the vil- 
lage was Dr. John Leeson. He made a trip 
to the new town in November, 1871, but 
the outlook was so discouraging that he 
passed but one night in the place, sleeping 
on the floor at that, in the kitchen of the 
Clam Lake House. He returned in March, 



288 



WEXFORD COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



1872, bought a lot and put up a building, in 
which he started the first drug store. Be- 
fore he had his building ready for occu- 
pancy he occupied a room in which J. S. 
McClain kept a small stock of groceries and 
also the postoffice. This building stood on 
Mason street. 

From the best information we can se- 
cure it appears that Holbrook & May started 
the first store on the site of the new village. 
This was in March, 1871, and was in a little 
log building near the shore of the lake. They 
afterwards put up a two-story store build- 
ing on the corner of Mason and Mitchell 
streets, in which they did a thriving busi- 
ness for a number of years. 

In the first issue of the Clam Lake News 
we see no mention of lawyers, but during the 
year two law firms were established, Fal- 
lass & Sawyer and Rice & Rice. It appears 
tliat the first attorney was S. S. Fallass, who 
came in the fall of 1872. The next one was 
D. A. Rice, who came for the purpose of 
securing the nomination for prosecuting at- 
torney, but found that the convention had 
been held a few days before his arrival and 
Mr. Fallass had secured the nomination. 

The members of the bar now living in 
the city are: J. R. Bishop, E. E. Haskins, 
Fred S. Lamb, D. E. Mclntyre, C. F. Bur- 
Ion, E. F. Sawyer, George S. Stanley, S. 
J. Wall, Fred \\'etmore and Circuit Judge 
C. C. Chittenden. From the city members 
of the bar four attorne3's have been raised 
to the circuit court bench of the twenty- 
eighth judicial circuit, viz : Hon. S. S. Fal- 
lass, Hon. J. M. Rice, Hon. F. H. Aldrich 
and the present judge, Hon. C. C. Chitten- 
den. For more than twenty years in suc- 
cession the circuit judge of the district to 



wliich ^^'exford county belongs has been a 
resident of Cadillac. 

It \\ ould be impossible to give in detail 
the vast lumbering operations that have 
built up and still largely sustain the thriving 
city by the lakes. For nearly thirty-two 
years, simimer and winter, and many times 
day and night, has the work gone on. Some 
idea may be formed of the vast proportions 
of this business from a present description 
of the mills and factories. For years the 
Cummer interests ran two mills, cutting 
from two hundred thousand to two hundred 
and fifty thousand feet of lumber per day. 
Two years ago one of these mills ceased do- 
ing business, for the reason that the pine 
timber had become exhausted. The other 
mill runs on hardwood and hemlock, cut- 
ting about sixty thousand feet of the for- 
mer or one hundred and thirty thousand 
feet of the latter per day. To this 
firm belongs the di.stinction of having 
first replaced their circular saws with 
band saws. This at first was looked upon 
as a foolish experiment, it being the 
universal opinion of mill men that the band 
saw could not stand the rapid "feed" neces- 
sary to turn out such a large quantity of 
lumber per day. Init the trial proved a suc- 
cess, and revolutionized the mill business 
throughout the country. Not only couki 
lumber be manufactured as rapidly and as 
evenly with the band saw as with the cir- 
cular or gang saws, but the saving of tim- 
ber in consequence of the difference in the 
thickness of the saws is nearly enough to 
pay the expense of manufacturing the lum- 
ber, and it was not long before all the larger 
mills in the country were using band saws. 
This firm manufacture a large portion of 



WEXFORD COUXTV. MICHIGAN. 



289 



their beech and maple lumber into flooring, 
having a large planing-mill in connection 
with their plant. They also have five pairs 
of retorts for making charcoal out of the 
refuse from cutting their hardwood lumber 
and also from the wood they cut out of such 
timber as is not suitable for lumber. They 
have a chemical plant in connection with 
the charcoal business, which turns out wood 
alcohol, acetate of lime and coal tar, The 
output of these per day is as follows : Six 
hundred gallons of wood alcohol and ten 
thousand pounds of acetate of lime. The 
coal tar is used for fuel, consequently no 
account is kept of that. They make about 
three thousand bushels of charcoal per day. 

(^obbs & Mitchell lia\e two saw-mills 
with a capacity of one hundred eight thous- 
and feet of hardwood or one hundred eight}- 
thousand feet of hemlock per day. Both 
mills \yere run entirely on pine until that 
timber was all cut out and now only hard- 
wood and hemlock, with occasionally a little 
pine mixed in, is cut. After the pine in 
this county had all l)een cut, they purchased 
one hundred and fifty million feet in Grand 
Traverse county and later sixty million feet 
in Kalkaska county, which was brought here 
for manufacture. Since turning their atten- 
tion to hardwood they have added a maple- 
flooring mill and dry kilns to their estab- 
lishment in this city, where they make from 
fifty thousand to sixty thousand feet of 
beech and maple flooring per day. 

The firm of Murphy & Diggins have a 
saw-mill with a capacity of about thirty-five 
thousand feet of lumber per day, nearly all 
of which is hemlock and maple. Wilcox 
Brothers ha\e a saw-mill capable of cutting 
some t\venty-five thousand feet per day. 
They also manufacture a patent basket and 



use quite a large quantity of timber each 
year for that purpose. Last year the fiini 
of Williams Brothers built a large last- 
block factory, with a saw-mill attachment. 
The last-block business consumes about tv.o 
hundred thousand feet of maple timber per 
year, while their saw-mill will cut forty 
thousand feet of lumber per day. They do 
not expect to do continuous business with 
the lumber mill, but use it to cut such timber 
as will not make last-blocks. Mitchell 
Brothers ha\'e a handle factory which re- 
quires about two million feet of beech and 
maple timber per annum. They only oper- 
ate a part of the year, but when running 
turn out abt)ut forty thousand handles per 
day. The Oviat \'eneer Works require two 
million feet of timber jjer annum to supply 
their plant. They use beech, birch, maple, 
basswood, ash, oak, cherry and elm timber. 
The Cadillac Tie & Shingle Company have 
a plant with saw-mill attachment, capable of 
turning out twenty thousand feet of lumber 
and forty thousand shingles per da}'. 

A little computation will show what a 
large amount of timber it recjuires each day 
to keep the mills and factories of Cadillac 
in operation, and the army of men given 
employment in the mills and camps by the 
lumber interests centered in this city. 

Haynes Brothers have a large custom 
planing mill and in connection keep all kinds 
of lumber, mouldings, door and window 
frames, also shingles, lath, doors and win- 
dows. The Cummer Manufacturing Com- 
pany do a large business in making ladders, 
potato crates and numerous small articles 
for hotisehold and ofifice use. 

The Michigan Iron works is an insti- 
tution that the city may well be proud of. 
It does everything in the shape of iron and 



290 



WEXFORD COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



steel working, from the building of a loco- 
motive down. It has a foundry where cast- 
ings weighing several tons can be made. 
William Haynes has a boiler shop in the 
same block as the iron works and turns out 
boilers and smoke stacks for all kinds and 
sizes of plants, as well as locomotive boil- 
ers. 

Another manufacturing business of 
which the city may well be proud is the City 
Flouring Mills. The property is owned by 
J. Cornwell & Sons, successors to Labor & 
Cornwell. The business is the outgrowth 
of the small beginning made in 1872, men- 
tion of which, under the name of Cornwell 
& Labor, is heretofore given in the extract 
from the first copy of the Clam Lake News. 
It has grown to such proportions that the 
firm keep a man on the road constantly, sell- 
ing its products at wholesale to the dealers 
along the Grand Rapids & Lidiana Railroad 
and Ann Arbor Railroad. They buy wheat 
along the whole northern lines of these rail- 
roads, have an elevator of their own at Shep- 
ard for wheat, and besides these sources of 
supply they receive many car loads of wheat 
and all of their corn from Chicago and other 
western points. l"his firm also does a whole- 
sale and retail grocery business, haxing two 
stores in the city. 

The first system of water works was 
inaugurated by H. N. Green in 1878. The 
mains laid at that time were of wood bound 
with iron, the largest having only six inch 
bore for water. In 1893 a franchise was 
granted to W. \V. Cummer to furnish a 
water supply for thirty years. The old 
wooden mains were replaced with iron pipes, 
the principal ones having a water capacity 
of twelve inches diameter. A stand pipe 
was built upon one of the highest elevations 



in the city and this is kept filled with water 
at all times, to guard against any mishap to 
the pumps or engines. There are now over 
ten miles of water mains in the city and the 
average daily consumption of water is about 
a million and a quarter gallons. 

About the time that Mr. Cummer secured 
the water franchise he started in the electric 
lighting business, using the same building 
that contained the pumping outfit for his 
dynamos. This branch of the business grew 
rapidly and it was not long before every 
business place and many of the residences 
had been supplied with electric lights. A 
little later street lights were put in place 
which gave the newly fiedged city (juite a 
dignified appearance. 

A year ago a gas company was organ- 
ized and gas mains were laid in the princi- 
pal streets and a large number of peojilc 
ha\e substituted gas for electricit)-, while 
some use both. Gas is furnished for heal- 
ing as well as lighting purposes, and the 
hardware stores now have a good trade in 
gas sto\es and ranges. 

Cadillac, like all other cities, is blessed 
with an abundance of secret societies. The 
two which have the longest existance are 
Clam Lake Lodge Xo. 23 1. Free and .Ac- 
cepted Masons, and Viola Lodge Xo. 259, 
Independent Order of Odd Fellows, which 
were both organized in the spring of 1875. 
The list that follows is a long one. Init we 
will give the names so that the reader can 
see what a town can do in the matter of 
secret orders when it sets itself about it. 
There is Cadillac Chapter X'o. 103, Royal 
Arch Masons; Cadillac Chapter X'o. 177, 
Order of the Eastern Star; Cadillac En- 
campment No. 93, Independent Order of 
Odd Fellows; Twin Lake Lodge X^o. 198, 



WEXFORD COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



291 



Rebekalis; Cadillac Lodge No. i8i. Anci- 
ent Order of United Workmen ; Cadillac 
Branch No. 131, Catholic Knights and La- 
dies of America ; The Ancient Catholic For- 
resters Association ; Court Lodge No. 300. 
Independent Order of Foresters ; Com- 
panion Court Dewey No. 181, Lide- 
pcndent Order of Foresters ; Ruby 
Council, F. A. A. ; W'ashington Post No. 
444, Grand Army of the Republic ; Cadillac 
Council, Royal and Select Masters; Twin 
Lake Camp No. 1596, Modern Woodmen 
of America ; Cadillac Lodge No. 46, Knights 
of Pythias: Eureka Division No. 67, Loyal 
Guards: Cadillac Tent No. 232, Knights 
of the Modern Maccabees: Cadillac Hive 
No. 698, Ladies of the Modern Maccabees : 
Estella D. Hive No. 368, Ladies of 
the Ahidern ^laccabees ; Cadillac Lodge 
No. 173, O. M. P.: Cadillac Royal 
Circle: Gotha Lodge No. 5, Swedish 
L^nited Sons of America ; Wexford Lodge 
No. 674, Brotherhood of Railroad Train- 
men, and possibl)' others whose names 
we have been unable to learn, besides un- 
ions of carpenters, clerks, barbers, cigar- 
makers, masons,' etc. 

Two years after the \illage of Clam 
Lake was platted the question of having the 
village incorporated was submitted to the 
electors living in the territory to be included 
in the village, on the 15th of April, 1S74, 
and was carried almost unanimously, tiiere 
being but one negative vote to se\enty-two 
in favor of the propositimi. This action 
was taken under the proxisioii of the general 
village incorporation law, and in accordance 
with that law the circuit judge, upon being 
notified of the result of the election, made 
an order declaring the \illage of Clam Lake 
duly incorporated. The first village election 



was held on the iith day of ^lay, 1874. 
The first village president was J- Shack- 
leton and the first clerk, David A. Rice. The 
first board of trustees were L. O. Harris. F. 
W. Hector, Daniel McCoy, George Hoi 
brook, A. N. McCarthy and J. W. Cobbs. 

It was only a couple of months after this 
election that ihc su]ireme court declared the 
general village incorporation law to be un- 
constitutional, and the new village officers 
were thrown out of a job. The following 
winter, however, an act was passed by the 
legislature reincorporating the village. The 
same president as before was elected, and 
some of the same trustees, but E. F. Sawver 
was elected clerk. 

In th.e winter of 1877 efforts were made 
to get a city charter under the name of 
"City of Cadillac" and an act was intro- 
duced in the state legislature for that pur- 
pose. So skillfully was this work done that 
Wexford county had a city within its boun- 
daries before half a dozen of the citizens, 
outside of those living in the village of Clan; 
Lake, knew it. The first- city election was 
held on the first [Monday of April, 1877, at 
which the following officers were elected : 
Maj'or, George A. Mitchell ; marshal, Hor- 
ton Crandell: clerk, Lorenzo Ballon: treps- 
urer, D. F. Comstock : collector, Horton 
Crandell: street commissioner, Charles Cole: 
school inspectors, Levi O. Harris, three 
years, Jacob Cummer, two years, Charles 
M. Aycr, one year: justices of the peace, 
H. N. Green, four years, E. F. Sawyer, 
three years, J. B. Rose\elt, two years, Rob- 
ert Christensen, one year : alderman at large. 
M. J. Bond, two years, D. W. Peck, one 
}'ear. 

The following is a list of those who have 
held the office of mayor since Mr. Mitchell's 



292 



WEXFORD COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



second term in 1878, viz: Jacob Cummer, 
one year ; D. McCoy, four years ; B. Bal- 
lon, one }ear; E. L. Metheany, two years; 
F. H. Huntley, one year; James liaynes, 
one year; J. H. Hixon. one year; James Mc- 
Adani. one year; W. \\\ Cummer, one 
year; L. J. Law. one year; Frecl A. Diggins, 
six years; S. J. Wall, two years; George S. 
Stanly, one year, and C. C. Donham, who 
is now serving his second year. 

The city has a neat little park, covering 
about a block, located between the Ann Ar- 
bor and Grand Rapids & Indiana Railroad 
tracks, which commands a fine view of the 
lake. Last year a tract of land near the 
western end of Lake Cadillac was purchaseil 
for j)ark i)nri)oses. Tiiis will, when prop- 
erly fixed up, be a fine place for picnics and 
pleasure drives, and from it a good view 
of the entire city will be afforded. 

A driving park association was organ- 
ized last year and immediately secured forty 
acres of land adjoining the city plat, and 
had (|uite a large proportion of it stumped 
before winter set in. This spring the work 
was renewed and the slumping is nearly 
,'i11 (lone and the grading well under way. 
A ciintract has been let for the erection of 
a grand staiul and other buildings, and it 
is expected that the grounds and track will 
be in readiness for speed contests before the 
summer is o\er. 

As early as 1876 a bank was started 
by D. F. Comstock and since that time the 
city has had very good bank facilities, with 
the exception of a brief period following the 
failure of Rice & Mcsmore, which occurred 
in 18S3. In December, 1883, a new Ijank 



was started, known as the D. A. Blodgett 
& Company Bank, with D. F. Diggins as 
manager. Mr. Diggins retired in 1892, and 
Henry Knowlton was selected as his suc- 
cessor. In 1895 Mr. Blodgett decided to 
withdraw from business in Cadillac, and it 
was then that the Cadillac State Bank was 
organized. The officers were F. J. Cobbs. 
president ; S. W. Kramer, vice-president, 
and Henry Knowlton, cashier. The same 
officers have been re-elected from year to 
year until the present time. In 1901 the 
stockholders decided to erect a new bank 
building, more in keeping with the times and 
affording better facilities for the transaction 
of its constantly increasing business. The 
work of putting up the new brick building 
was begun early in the summer and in De- 
cember it was ready for occupancy. The 
outside walls are faced with yellow brick, 
giving the building a very attractive ap- 
pearance. The inside finishings and fur- 
nishings are of elegant design and modern 
in every particular, and the stockholders arc 
justly proud of their new banking house. 
Mr. Knowlton has several times had the 
pleasure of showing its meritorious appoint- 
ments to parties from other towns who were 
contemplating building, and in every case 
the visitors were much pleased with the con- 
venient arrangements for business adopted 
in its construction. The new building oc- 
cupies the same site as the old, on the corner 
of South Mitchell and West Cass streets. 
Some idea of the extent of its business may 
be had from its last fin;incial statement, is- 
sued l'"el)ruary Ci. 1903. which was as fol- 
lows : 



jy EX FORD COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



293 



RESOURCES. 



Loans and Discounts, ... $ 48^ 

Bonds, Mortgages and Securities, - - 106 
Premium paid on Bonds, 

Overdrafts, 

Hanking House, '21 

Furniture and Fixtures, - - - . 1 
U. S. Bonds, - - - $ 20,000.00 

Due from Banks, - - 104,171.86 
U. S. and Nat. Bank Currency, 11,244.00 
Gold Coin, ... - 14,100.00 
Silver Coin, - - - 4,255.35 

Nickels and Cents - - 859.24 



,759.12 
,328.31 
775.00 
406.70 
,239.31 
,770.46 



Checks and Cash Items, - 



LIAKILITIES. 



Capital .Stock paid in, 
Surplus Fund, 
Undivided Profits, 
Commercial Deposits, 
Certificates of Deposit, - 
Savings Deposits, 



$ 154,630.45 
3,916.07 

$ 772,825.42 



$ 50,000.00 
26,000.00 
24,507.03 



$ 211,960.78 

- 325,480.14 

135,877.47 



$ 673,318.39 
$ 772,825.42 



III July, 1902, tlie People's Savings 
Bank was organized, with Charles E. Rus- 
sell, president; C. H. Drury, vice-president, 
and George Chapman, cashier. The capital 
stock was fifty thousand dollars, all paid ii>. 
Its statement issued May 15, 1903, shows 
deposits of $123,192.70; loans, $137,384.- 
18, and total resources, $177,381.18. This 
shows a wonderful growth of business for 
the ten months the bank has Iieen running. 

The population of the city in now about 
seven thousand, having been 4,461 in 1890 
and 5.997 in 1900. The last three years 
have witnessed a more rapid growth than 
any like period in the history of the town. 

At the last city election it was voted to 
bond the city for thirty-five thousand dol- 
lars for public improvements, it being well 



understood that this money was to be tised 
in sectiring more factories. 

A Board of Trade was organized early 
in the spring of 1903, the main object of 
which was to have charge of the matter of 
properly expending the money raised for 
public improvements. Heretofore this work 
had been looked after by the Commercial 
Club, but at a largely attended meeting of 
the business men of the city it was thought 
best to organize a Board of Trade, and the 
preliminary steps were then taken to accom- 
plish this object. The work has since been 
completed and the organization duly incor- 
porated under the state law. 

With the impetus which will be given 
to the growth of the city by the expenditure 
of the mone}' raised on the bonds voted, the 
city will more than likely reach the ten 
thousand mark at the next United States 
census. Residences by the score were built 
during the year 1902 and a large number 
will be erected during the present year. 

VILLAGE OF MANTON. 

We find it stated from what seems to 
be reliable authority that the village of Man- 
ton was started in 1872, but the first plat 
to be recortled w-as the Railroad Plat of 
1874. Previous to this there seems to have 
been another plat, which was called Cedar 
Creek, lint it was not recorded until 
after the Railroad Plat had been recorded. 
In September, 1881, Seaman & Maqueston 
platted an addition and in Octol)er, 18S3, 
another addition was platted, known as the 
Dodds addition. Two more additions were 
platted in 1884, one by Mr. Wiles and one 
by Mr. Huff. 1885 witnessed the platting 
of two more additions, one by H. B. Sturte- 



294 



IV EX FORD COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



vaiit and one by Frank Weaver. Billiligs' 
addition was added in 1886, Sturtevant & 
Harger's addition in 1S97 and the Manton 
Development Association plat was made in 
igo2. It will thus be seen that the village 
has had a very uniform and substantial 
growth since its first organization. It is 
surrounded by a splendid farming country, 
which affords a sure and steady business for 
its merchants. Besides the farming indus- 
try it has always had a healthy and remun- 
erative manufacturing business. 

Ezra Harger and George Manton were 
the first persons to see the advantage of hav- 
ing a village at this point, having reached 
that point on a pnjspecting trip in the sum- 
mer of 1872. Mr. Harger purchased twenty 
acres of land and put up the first building in 
the place, which he filled with merchandise 
in the fall. William Meares also became in- 
terested in the place during the same fall 
and both he and Mr. Manton put up store 
buildings before the winter set in. Mr. 
Manton was a shoemaker by trade, and his 
stock of goods was mostly in that line, and 
he also had a shop in the rear end of the 
store for making and repairing footwear. 
The next year a saw-mill was erected and 
a hotel. 

The first religious service held in the 
new village was held in the railroad depot 
by the station agent, H. Brantlenburg, in 
the winter of 1872-,^. Mr. Brandenburg 
was a Methodist, and during the summer 
of 1873 organized a class of eighteen mem- 
bers. He was appointed local preacher in 
August of that year. 

The first school building in the village 
was erected in 1873. -^ term of school had 
previously been taught in a private dwelling 
house by Mrs. O. J. Golden. 



The village aiiade a rapid growth for 
the next two or three years, one very im- 
portant reason being that as soon as regular 
trains hatl commenced running over the 
Grand Rapids & Indiana Railroad and a 
passable road could be made through to 
Sherman, the mail route was changed, and 
instead of running from Cadillac to Sher- 
man and on to Tra\'erse City, the route was 
from IManton to Traverse City, via Sher- 
man, until the railroad reached Traverse 
City, and then it was simply from Sherman 
to Manton. Xot only was this daily mail 
route a great help to Manton, but that vil- 
lage was the only shipping point for the 
whole country for six miles on either side 
of a line directly west of Manton clear 
through tlie county and for eight or ten 
miles into ^Manistee county. These condi- 
tions helped the merchants and the hotel 1 
of Manton to a wonderful degree and con- 
tinued until the building of the Toledo, Ann 
Arbor & Xorthern I\Iichigan Railroad 
through the county in 18S9. And thus it 
happened that we see the \illage spoken c>f 
in 1877 as ha\ing three good hotels and 
fi\e general stores. .\ second saw-mill had 
been Iniilt previous to that time, also a plan- 
ing mill. So rapidly had the village grown 
that the legislature of 1877 passed an act 
incorporating the village, but it was not un- 
til February 11, 1878. that the first village 
election was held. 

The same year Manton Lodge Xo. 347. 
Free and Accepted Masons, was organized! 
with twehe charter members. A Wom- 
an's Christian Temperance Union was or- 
ganized the same year. In May, 1881. Ris- 
ing Star Lodge Xo. 99, Ancient Order of 
L'nited Workmen, was organized, but after 
a few years of activity went to pieces. O. 



WEXFORD COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



295 



P. Morton Post, Grand Army of the Ro- 
pnlilic. was mustered in April 26, 1882, and 
has had a good membership ever since that 
time, though for the past few years its ranks 
have been perceptibly thinned by death. An 
Odd Fellows lodge was organized as ear- 
ly as March, 1882, but with only six char- 
ter members. The village now has a tent 
of Knights of the Modern Maccabees, a 
hive of Ladies of the Modern Maccaljees, 
a lodge of Modern Woodmen of America 
and a Knights of Pythias lodge. 

A pretty good idea may be had of the 
\illage from the number of teachers employ- 
ed in its public schools and the number ot 
pupils in attendance. There are eight teach- 
ers employed and the pupils number two 
hundred and ninety. The village has a fine 
school building and its schools rank second 
in the county in size and number of teacli- 
ers employed. The present officers of the 
\illage are Charles H. Bostick, president; 
Arthur Bulkley, clerk ; George M. Brooks, 
treasurer : N. A. Reynolds, assessor ; An- 
drew J. Bennett, street commissioner, and 
Richard Xewland, marshal. In 1895 the 
\illage inaugurated a water-works system, 
and in 1901 it instituted an electric light 
plant. Both of these, we believe, are owned 
and o]jerated by the village. 

In the line of manufacturing industries 
we find the stave and heading factory of 
Andrew McAfee, employing from thirty 
to fortv men: the last-block factorv of the 
Williams Brothers Company, turning out 
four thousand fi\'e hundred to five thousand 
last blocks per day and employing about 
forty men. M. Xorthrup has a saw and 
planing-mill and lumber yard. He employs 
from ten tc thirty men, and turns out about 
twenty-five thousand feet of lumber per day 



while running his mill, which is only a part 
of the year, on account of the difficulty h\ 
getting logs in the summer time. The Man- 
ton flour-mill, owned by Phelps & Baker, 
has a capacity of ninety barrels of flour and 
twenty tons of feed per day. They employ 
fi\-e to seven men. The Manton Produce 
Company have a grain elevator and produce 
warehouse and also a mill for grinding feed. 
They have storage room for ten thousand 
bushels of grain and produce, and employ 
from five to ten men. The Rotary Seed 
Planter Manufacturing Company is of re- 
cent origin, and is composed of (Irs(.)n D. 
Park and H. G. Plutzler. They are the 
patentees and are just commencing to manu- 
facture the machines for the market. Tliey 
are very sanguine that they have an article 
that will find a ready sale when once put on 
the market, and its merits thoroughly tested. 
The Manton Tribune was established in 
October, 1870, Init for some time the press 
work \\'as done in Cadillac. The first edi- 
tor and ])ublisher was Marshal McLure, 
but in a short time it passfed into the hands 
of \. J. Teed, of Cadillac. Mr. Teed kept 
it but a short time, selling- out to C. E. 
Cooper, formerly owner of the Wexford 
County Pioneer, and a practical newspaper 
man, wdio soon made the paper worthy of a 
liberal support, which the people of Manton 
have ever since giva: it. In September, 
1883, it was purchased by H. F. Campbell. 
Mr. Campbell was postmaster at that time 
and upon the expiration of his term of of- 
fice sokl the paper back to Mr. Cooper, who 
was also Mr. Campbell's successor as post- 
master. ]\Ir. Cooper continued in control of 
the paper until August, 1893, when he sold 
it to H. G. Hutzler, its present owmer. It 
was started as a five-column folio, but has 



296 



jy EX FORD COUNTY. MICHIGAN. 



been enlarged two or three times, being now 
a six-column (juarto. It has always been 
Republican in ])iilitics except the last few 
years it was in Air. Cooper's hands, when it 
was Demo- Greenback. Its present owner 
is deputy state oil inspector for the district 
lo which W'exford county belongs. 

Early in 1873 '^ postoffice was estab- 
lished at Manton with O. P. Carver as the 
first postmaster. His successors have been 
H. M. Billings. H. Brandenburg, M. P. 
( !i!1)ert. II. F. Campbell, C. E. Cooper, Frank 
• \\'ca\cr, C. E. Cooper and V. F. Huntley, 
the present incumbent, who is now serving 
his second term. The office passed into the 
presidential class in I'cbruary, 1899. The 
salary of the postmaster is fourteen hundred 
dollars per year, with six hundred and 
twenty-six dollars for his assistant and 
three hundred dollars for one clerk. 

There is a rural delivery route starting 
from the oH'ice and covering twenty-three 
miles in its rounds. The carrier is H. C. 
I'^)rw(iriliy. This is the only rural delivery 
ri)Ulc in the county. 

There has been considerable agitation 
cuer the subject of building a beet-sugar 
factory at Al.uilnn. but nothing definite has 
yet been dcnie. Se\eral experiments in the 
matter of raising sugar beets have been tried 
with very satisfactory results, and a beet- 
sugar factory for the \illage is more than a 
probability. 

1 1. \ RU I KTT.\ \IL1..\C.K. 

The \illnge of I larrietta was platted in 
.\\)v'\]. iS.S(), by (he Aslilcys, who were build- 
ing the Toledo & .Ann .Vrbor Railroad. 
C.aston and Campbell platted an addition in 
April. iS(;o. and a year later the Ogden ad- 



dition was platted. The first "boom" the 
town had was upon the arrival of Gaston and 
Campbell, who built a saw-mill and manu- 
facturing establishment for the purpose of 
making novelties from the hardwood with 
which the village was surrounded. They 
bought expensive machinery and quite large 
tracts of land and started out with every 
prospect of success but the hard times over- 
took them and failure followed. Had they 
waited four years longer their enterprise 
would doul)tless ha\e proved a success and 
the village of Harrietta would no doul)t have 
been double its jiresent size. 

Harrietta, like all villages of any pre- 
tensions, had to have a newspaper, and one 
was started in 1S91. Its life was of but 
short duration, however, and in less than two 
years the village was without an "organ." 
Another attempt in this line was made in 
1893, but, like the first effort, this also proved 
a failure. Sometime in 1894. Sam O. Coo- 
ley -started a newspaper in the village, but 
he soon left the place for a more sympathetic 
community. Soon after this John C. Stone 
started the llarrielta Xcws. which he con- 
tinued to publish until i8()7, when he sud- 
denly disai)i)earc(l and of course the paper 
was discontinued. 

For something like a year the Harrietta 
Messenger has now been running under the 
management of Tom R. Campbell. There 
is e\ery indication that this last newspaper 
effort will be more successful than its pred- 
ecessors, and that the citizens of Harrietta 
and the surrounding towns will ha\'e a home 
paper that they can feel a pride in. The 
local newspaper is something that a thriving 
village can ill afford to l)e without, and, 
though the calling is nf)t a very lucrative one 
ill small xillaijes, there arc alwavs those 



WEXFORD COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



297 



ready and willing to undertake the task of 
running- a country paper, and, when properly 
managed, nothing does more for the pros- 
perity of a village than the village newspaper. 

Soon after the coming of the railroad a 
set of charcoal kilns were built and a chemi- 
cal plant for the manufacture of wood alco- 
hol erected, and for se\eral years these were 
kept in active operation, day and night. 
These were finally remo\'ed to Yuma, si.x 
miles further north, and this, too, was a se- 
vere blow to the village. A shingle mill was 
built and kept in operation for several years 
until the timber for that product had be- 
come exhausted, when it moved away. 

With all of these discouragements, the 
\illage has still held its own and now it is 
promised a brighter future. 

There is a fine trout stream, the Slagle 
creek, running through the edge of the vil- 
lage, and two years ago the state fish com- 
missioners decided that it was just the place 
for a fish hatchery. The necessary land was 
accordingly purchased and last year the work 
of clearing out the stream, building the nec- 
essary dams and chutes, and erecting build- 
ings was begun. The work is now well un- 
der wav, the state having expended some 
five thousand dollars last year, with a proba- 
ble expenditure of three or four thousand 
dollars the present year. It is proposed to 
make this one of the best fish hatcheries in 
the state, which will call for a yearly out- 
lay of several thousand dollars, all of which 
tends to brighten the future prospects of the 
village. 

Soon after the starting of the \illage the 
.Springdale postoffice, which for years had 
been kept at a private house about a mile 
north of the site of the village, to accommo- 
date the farming community in that vicin- 



ity, was mo\ed to the new village and its 
name changed to that of the \illage, llarri- 
etta. 

The village was incorporated in 1891, 
under the name of Gaston. This so vexed 
the railroad ofllcials that they threatened to 
take up the station unless the name was 
changed back to Harrietta. Accordingly in 
1893 an act was passed by the legislature 
changing the name to Harrietta. At the first 
election after the passage of the act incor- 
porating the village, the following ofificers 
were elected, viz: President, John A. Bar- 
ry; clerk, Thomas H. Jackson; treasurer, 
J. Stewart Hood; assessor, Joseph Z. Stan- 
ley.- The present village officers are Will 
C. Barry, president: Charles S. Ogdcn, 
clerk: H. J. VanAukcn, treasurer: Jcjlin A. 
Barry, assessor. 

Among the industries of the village are 
the following : The Harrietta Sto\e Com- 
pany, established in 1891 by Ben F. Craig 
as manager, who has since become sole own- 
er of the plant. He pays out a large sum 
each year for stock and in wages, thus con- 
tributing in no small degree to the prosperity 
of the village. 

I'he Fellers Brothers have a saw-mill and 
also a stave-mill. They are now putting a 
planer and matcher in the mill, something 
the village has long felt the need of. This 
concern commenced operations in 1897 and 
have run almost constantly since that time. 
Their pay-roll each month contributes a 
large amount to the business volume of the 
village. 

The Harrietta Brick Compau}- was or- 
ganized in 1893 by h'rank I), (iaston and S. 
P. Millard. Mr. Gaston soon after retired 
and Robert Wilson, of Cadillac, l)ecame a 
member of the company. After a few years 



298 



WEXFORD COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



Mr. Milianl s.jM out to William Heath! 
so that the linn now is Wilson & Heath. 

Jhe \illage has a lodge of Independent 
Order of Odd Fellows, No. i86, a Rebekah 
Lodge, No. 253, a tent of the Knights of the 
Modern Maccabees, and a hive of the Ladies 
of the r^lodern Maccabees. The population 
(il the \illage is nearly six hundred. 

The \ill;ige of Boon was platted in Ap- 
ril, iS.S(;, and in August, 1893, ^ P^'^^ of 
Bennett's addition was tiled. The village 
was never incorporated. It has two saw- 
mills and a bowl factory, and the usual places 
of business found in all small villages. 

In l'\4)ruary, 1H90, the village of Mes- 
ick was platted. I'his village now has one 
saw-mill and a handle factory. For sev- 
eral years the Williams Brothers operated 
a branch of their last-block business at this 
point, but last yeai" the equipment of their 
jilant in Mesick was moved to their new 
.'^ccne of operations in Cadillac. The village 
now has a weekly newsi)apcr, the Sun, which 
is in the fourth vear of its existence. One 
or two former efforts in the newspaper busi- 
ness had failed, but the Sun seems to be 
still shining as !n\igoratingly as ever. This 
place, since its birth, has been the railroad 
station at which has been done all the rail- 
road business for the village of Sherman, 
situated two and a half miles northeasterly 
from the station, except bulk freight, which 
h.as been loaded and unkjaded at the Clog- 
gett spur, a mile and a half north of the sta- 
tion. ,\ little o\er a year ago the inhabi- 
tants of the village petitioned the board of 
supervisors to be incorpt^-ated, and the board 
granted the jjctition. The first village elec- 
tit)n was held on the 5th day of March, 1902, 
at which the following officers were elected, 
viz : President, R. M. Harry : clerk. F. E. 



Rice; treasurer, W. W. Galloway; assessor, 
B. C. llalstead. 'i"he same otricers were 
re-elected at last s])ring"s election, except 
that J. M. Donnelly was elected treasurer in 
place of W. \V. Galloway. 

The village has a nice, large school build- 
ing, in which two teachers are employed for 
nine months of the year. The Seventh-Day 
Advent society ha\'e a good church build- 
ing in which regular services are held. There 
is also a tent of the Knights of the Modern 
Maccabees, a hive of the Ladies of the Mod- 
ern Maccabees and a camp of the Modern 
Woodmen of .\merica, all in a nourishing 
condition. 

In June, 1893, the village of Yuma was 
platted. This village is about half way be- 
tween Harrietta and Mesick. The \illage 
was the outgrowth of the removal of the 
Jenney coal kilns .'unl chemical plant from 
Plarrictta to this ])oint. The proprietors of 
these plants had made a purchase of a large 
tract of land, hca\ily tiiubered with hard- 
wooil near the railroad at this point, and ile- 
cided that is would be cheaper to move the 
plant to the timber than the timber to the 
plant. For a few years succeeding the start- 
ing of the \illage a saw-mill was in opera- 
tion, but that ceased to do business some 
seven or eight years ago, since which time 
the plants abo\-e mentioned have constituted 
the only manufacturing business in the place. 
The lumber camps in the vicinity and the 
farming interests have afforded a fairly good 
trade to the stores of the place, .and. being 
sru'rounded l)\- a good farming' counlr\-, it 
will alwavs be a market and shipping i)oint 
for farm ])roducts, even after the charcoal 
and chemical business, which brought it into 
existence, ceases to exist. 

The xillaire of Wexford never had a \il- 



WEXFORD COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



299 



lage plat. From time to time building lots 
were sold by metes and Ijounds, and in this 
way it has slowly but surely grown in busi- 
ness importance until it has become an in- 
despensable trading point for the surround- 
ing community. It has ne\er had any manu- 
facturing . industry except a small saw-mill 
located alwut half a mile south of the center 
of th.e village. A part of the village is in 
Grand Traverse county, the main street east 
and west through the village being the county 
line. In 1878 the Methodist Episcopal so- 
ciety built a church building in which regu- 
lar services have been lield most of the time 
fince. 

I. Foust was the first merchant in the 
place, having commenced the grocery l)usi- 
ness, in a small way, back in the 'seventies. 
He kept adding to his stock little by little 
until finally he carried quite a full stock of 
general merchandise with his groceries. He 
held the postofllce for alx)ut twelve years. 
He was quite a musician and organized a 



martial band and for many years "Foust's 
Band" could be seen at all the gatherings 
where outdoor music was needed. He died 
about fifteen years ago and his son "Collie" 
succeeded to the business. The place has 
several secret societies, as follows : Fort- 
ney Tent No. 565, Knights of the Modern 
Maccabees; Murrea Hive No. 263, Ladies 
of the Modern Maccabees; Wexford Camp 
No. 8647, Modern Woodmien of America, 
and A. P. Earl Post, Grand Army of the 
Republic. 

There is a small cluster of buildings sev- 
en miles south of Cadillac and it was given 
the name of Hobart many years ago, and is 
still called the village of Hobart. For a 
good many years there was a custom grir^t- 
mill in the village, but last year it ceased to 
do business and was moved out of the county. 
There is at present no manufacturing indus- 
try there and the only places of business are 
the postoflice and a cnuntry store. 



CHAPTER XL 



OUR HONORED DEAD PIONEERS. 



B. W. Flail, as heretofore noted, was 
the first settler in Wexford county. He was 
born in Steuben county, New \'ork. His 
father rennn-ed to Cattaraugus county. New 
^'ork, in 1S56, where he died soon after 
locating in his new home, leaving a widow, 
two sons and a daughter, the children all 
under eighteen years of age. Benjamin, the 



subject of this sketch, was of a roving dis- 
position and soon left home to seek his for- 
tune in the west. He settled first in south- 
ern Michigan, where he 'li\'ed until after 
the breaking out of the war of the Rebel- 
lion, and after tlie passage of the pre-emption 
law he came to the wilds of Wexford coun- 
t\'. arrix'ing in the fall of 1863. It was 



300 



WEXFORD COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



then out of the (jnestion to get himber with 
which t(i 1iuil(l a Ikiusc. and it was equally 
diflicult to huild a log house, as there were 
not enough men within twelve miles of his 
homestead to roll the logs into a house, so 
he built a slranty with elm bark, where he 
and his wife lived for nearly two years. His 
wife then ran away with a Mr. Anise, and 
Mr. Hall rented his farm and went east to 
visit relatives, where he remained for nearly 
two years. Soon after his return he mar- 
ried again, but this union was not pleasant 
and after a few \cars a separation was se- 
cured through divorce proceedings. A few 
years later a third matrimonial venture was 
made, which proved more lasting than either 
of the others, the death of Mr. Hall in 1894 
alone causing the separation. Mr. Hall, 
like many a lad of that period had meager 
opportunities for gaining an education, yet 
m his later years he was honored with near- 
ly all the ofiices in the gift of his townsmen 
at different times. He was industrious and 
frugal, and left his family a farm of one 
hundred and sixty acres, eighty of which 
were under cultivation. 

Dr. John Perry was another early pi- 
oneer in Wexford county, arri\'ing almost 
sinniltaneously with Mr. Hall. He, like Mr. 
Hall, was a native of New York state, and 
migrated to southern Michigan when the tide 
of emigration set in to the new states and 
territories of the west, a term given all the 
country west of the great lakes. He li\ed 
a year or two in Grand Traverse county 
before coming to Wexford county. He lo- 
cated a homestead in Antioch township, on 
section 6, a part of which is now included in 
the village of Sherman. He died in 1875 
at the age of eighty-two years. 

Robert Mvliil! was a son-in-law of Dr. 



Perry, and came to the county soon after the 
arrival of Mr. Hall ami Mr.Perry. He set- 
tled on section 24 in Wexford township, 
where he remained until his accidental death 
in the spring of 1868. He had donated a 
site for a school house in the northeast cor- 
ner of his farm and the neighbors had set 
a day for cutting away the timber, prepara- 
tory to erecting a school-house. At this 
"bee" Mr. Myhill was struck by the limb of 
a falling tree, crushing his skull, causing 
death, though he lived for over twelve hours 
after the injury. 

William Masters was another early set- 
tler in the county, arriving in the autumn 
of 1863. He came from Steuben county. 
New York, and settled on section 12, in 
what is now Wexford township. He was 
noted for his hospitality, and many an early 
settler found food and shelter beneath his 
roof, "without money and without price." 
His home was headquarters for mail to an>l 
from Traverse City, and when the postoffice 
department was prewailcd upon to establish 
the first postoffice in the county he was ap- 
pointed the first postmaster. He served one 
term as county treasurer, and filled various 
township offices in his township. Largely 
with his own hands he felled and cleared 
the hca^-y timber from over a hundred acres 
of his homestead. For a number of years 
lie kept a small grocery, which was of the 
greatest value to those of the settlers who 
were without teams, as most of them were, 
thus enabling tlicni lo get the necessaries of 
life near enough so that they could pack 
them to their homes. He died in 1887, at 
the ripe age of eighty-three years, and was 
sincerely mourned by all the early settlers in 
the northwest part of the county. 

William E. Dean was one of the earlv 



WEXFORD COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



801 



pioneers in the county, coming from Chau- 
tauqua county, New York. He located a 
homestead on section 2, in the present town- 
ship of SpringviHe, in 1865. He was the 
second supervisor from that township, which 
then consisted of six sur\-eyed townships, 
Antiocli, Boon, Henderson, Slagle and 
South Branch liaving heen organized out 
of the territory originally comprising the 
township of Springville. Mr. Dean served 
as supervisor many years in succession, and 
undoubtedly held that office more terms 
than any other person has held a similar of- 
fice in the county. He was prominent in the 
order of Patrons of Husbandry, when that 
order was in its palmy days in the country. 
He was twice nominated for the office of 
coiuity treasurer by tine Democratic party, 
hut was both times defeated. His death oc- 
curred at his home on the old homestead in 
June, 1903. 

Harmony J. Carpenter came to the 
county in 1865, and settled on section 6, 
in what is now Antioch township. He also 
came from Chautauqua county, New York, 
where he had lived for many years. He 
was in feeble health and well on in years 
when he came to the county, so that clear- 
ing away the forests to make a farm was 
slow ^vork for him, but by perseverance he 
at length succeeded in making a good sized 
clearing on his homestead. He was one 
of the early members of the Congregational 
church at Sherman, and served the church 
many years as deacon and trustee. He died 
in 1889 and his wife, who married several 
years after his death, died in 1898. 

Andrew .Anderson came to Wexford 
county from Canada in 1886, settling on 
section to, in what is now Hanover town- 
ship. He was the first shoemaker to arrive 



in the county, and the work he did in that 
line helped him greatly in clearing up his 
farm. .After the village of Sherman got 
well started he removed to that place and 
worked at his trade, keping a few goods 
in his line on sale, his wife at the same time 
running a little millinery store. Later he 
purchased an interest in a saw-mill at Sher- 
man, which howe\'er Inirned down in a short 
time after his purchase. He then purchased 
an interest in what was known as the Wheel- 
er mill in Hanover township, which he held 
for a few years. He also bought forty acres 
of railroad land adjoining the mill property 
for a home, the burning of the saw-mill 
having caused him to lose his old home, 
obliging him to start anew. Mr. Anderson 
was of Scotch descent and when the First 
Congregational church of Sherman was or- 
ganized he and his wife were charter mem- 
bers. He represented his township on tiie 
board of supervisors several years and held 
various other township offices at different 
times. He died in 1895, his widow sur- 
viving him only about a year and a half. 

S. C. Worth came to the 'county in 1866, 
taking up a homestead on section 20, in the 
present township of Hanover. He was a 
candidate for judge of probate at the first 
election for county officers in the county, 
but from the fact that some of the ballots 
were written (there was no printing press 
in the county in those days) with the full 
name and some with the initials only, he was 
defeated. He was afterwards appointed to 
the office of superintendent of the poor, serv- 
ing several years. He also served a number 
of years as supervisor and several terms as 
town treasurer and justice of the peace. He 
was among the early California gold seekers, 
and made the trip o\eriand before the trans- 



302 



WEXFORD COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



continental railroads were thought of. Some 
seven or eight years ago he mo\e(l to Em- 
met county, this state, where he died in 
1901. 

Charles Dalchow was a native of Ber- 
lin, Prussia, where he was born in 1825. 
He emigrated to America in 1857 in conse- 
f|uence of one of those political upheavals 
thai were of such frequent occurrence, half 
a century ago, in some of those petty coun- 
tries that now constitute the German em- 
pire. He first settled in St. Joseph county, 
this state, coming to this county in 1871. 
He was a farmer by occupation, though fre- 
(juently elected to different offices. His 
death occurred in 1896 at the age of seventy- 
one years. 

H. D. Griswold was the tirst practic- 
ing physician in the county. He was born 
in Jackson county, Michigan, in 1840. He 
commenced the practice of medicine in his 
native county soon after graduating from 
the State University at Ann Arbor in 1865. 
For several years he was connected with the 
newspaper business, having been a reporter 
for several different papers, and in widely 
separated fields, working in Detroit, St. 
Louis and Chicago. He came to Wexford 
county in 1872, and for many years was the 
only physician in the northwestern part of 
the county. He was an uncompromising 
Democrat and was always one of the coun- 
cilors of his party, and for many years chair- 
man of the party's county committee. His 
death occurred in 1899. 

Ezra Harger was born in Portage coun- 
ty, Ohio, in 1838. When the President 
made the call for seventy-five thousand 
three-months men to put down the rebellion, 
in April, 1861, he enlisted in the Fourteenth 
Ohio Infantrv. Some three months after 



the expiration of his three months service 
he enlisted in the Fifteenth United States 
Infantry. Ffe was discharged in 1864, and 
soon after re-enlisted for three years and 
served until February, 1867. He came to 
Wexford county in 1872, locating a home- 
stead and also platting a piece of land which 
is now a part of the village of Manton. la 
1874 he was elected county treasurer and 
held that oftke for four terms during his 
life. He was chairman of the Soldiers' 
Relief Commission several years : served as 
supervisor, clerk and treasurer of his town- 
ship at different times and was chairman cf 
the Republican county committee several 
years. He was a member of the Free & 
Accepted Masons and at his death, which 
occurred in 1899, was buried under the aus- 
pices of that order. 

Isaac X. Carpenter, Wexford county's 
first judge of probate, was born in Chautau- 
qua county, New York, in 1838. He came 
to Wexford county in the fall of 1865, lo- 
cating a homestead on section 26, in what is 
now Wexford township. Besides his serv- 
ice as probate judge, he was several years 
supervisor of his township, and also held 
the oflice of justice of the peace many years, 
and township clerk several times. He was 
appointed postmaster at Sherman during 
President Cleveland's first administration, 
serving four years, after which he removed 
with his family to the new state of Wash- 
ington, where he died several years ago, the 
exact date of his death not being obtaina- 
ble. 

I. H. Maqueston, the county's first gen- 
eral merchant, was born in Rockland coun- 
ty. New York, in 1847. He came to the 
county in the spring of 1869, soon after the 
countv was organized, remaining a citizen 



jyEXFORD COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



303 



of the county until tlie time of his death, ex- 
cept one year wliicli he spent in New- 
York city. He was a successful merchant, 
a lover of fishing and hunting, and fully 
alive to everything that tended to benefit 
his home village. He rebuilt the Sherman 
grist-mill after its destruction by fire, and 
for several years did a successful milling- 
business. His death occurred in March, 
1886, from heart failure, he being in the 
])rinie of life and aj.iparently in the best of 
health up to an hour or two before his 
death. He was somewhat of a land dealer, 
at one time owning a part of the site of the 
j)resent city of Cadillac, and owned sev- 
eral hundred acres of land in the county at 
the time of his death. 

S}'lvester Clark came to Wexford coun- 
ty in the spring of 1869, locating at Sher- 
man and starting the first hotel in the coun- 
ty seat town. It was kept in a log house 
which was originally erected for a dwelling 
house, but which Mr. Clark remodeled in- 
to a hotel. Soon after starting this busi- 
ness a separation occurred between him and 
his wife, whicli was followed by divorce. 
A few years later he married the widow of 
Abrani Finch, an old soldier who came to 
the county in 1866, and only lived two or 
three years after his arrival. She still 
lives in Sherman and often at the reunions 
of the old settlers tells of being treed by a 
liear, wlien she and her first husband were 
living on their homestead, and how her 
little dog kept nipping at the bear's hind 
feet, thus detracting his attention and enab- 
ling her to get far enough up the tree to l)e 
out of reach. After his second marriage 
Mr. Clark took up farming and continued 
hi ibis occupation until the infirmity of age 
obliged him to give it up. He then movecl 



into Sherman village, and lived there until 
the winter of 1901, when he went to the Pa- 
cific coast, thinking it would improve his 
physical condition. In this he was disap- 
pointed, as he lived but a few weeks after 
reaching his journey's end. 

Lewis J. Clark, though not a relative of 
Sylvester Clark, was one of the early pion- 
eers of the county. He was a carpenter and 
joiner by trade and came to the county in 
the employ of George W. Bryant, of Trav- 
erse City, who owned a piece of land at the 
point where the Newaygo and Northport 
state road crossed the Manistee river. Mr. 
Bryant had a small clearing made near the 
bank of the river, and erected a good sized 
building intended for a hotel, and it was 
used for a short time for that purpose. Mr. 
Clark did the work of building the house 
and rented it for a while, putting in a stock 
of groceries. In 1868 he severed his connec- 
tion with Mr. Bryant and put up the first 
frame building in the village of Sherman, 
moving his stock of groceries into it as soon 
as it was ready to occupy. He afterwards 
went into the drug business, putting up an- 
other building for that purpose and moving 
the old one and using it as an addition to the 
drug store. Mr. Clark was a very obliging 
gentleman, and was liked by every one. As 
an evidence of this fact, he was unanimously 
recommended for postmaster, though a 
strong Democrat, and was appointed by a 
Republican administration. He died in De- 
cember, 1877, and was Ijiu'ied under the aus- 
pices of the Independent Order of Red Men, 
of which he was a member, and was sincerely 
mourned by the entire community. 

Frederick S. Kieldsen, for many years 
a prominent merchant in Cadillac, was born 
in Denmark in 1849, arriving in Cadillac 



304 



WEXFORD COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



in 1S72. He was a shrewd business man, 
and after enlarging his mercantile stock to 
his satisfaction purchased a large farm, 
built a good farm house and large barns and 
at one time had a dairy of fort3'-five cows, 
mostly Holsteins. He was a lover of hors- 
es and kept some fine specimens on his farm. 
He suffered some severe reverses during the 
panic following the second election of Grov- 
er Cleveland, and subsequently retired from 
business. He died quite suddenly in 1891, 
leaving a widow and two children. 

John G. Mosser was born in Canada 
in 1840. He early learned the carpenter 
trade and at the time of the building of the 
Grand Rapids «S: Indiana Railroad secur- 
ed the position of foreman of the bridge 
building part of the construction, and stayed 
with the company until the road reached 
Petosky. He then settled in Cadillac and 
engaged in house building, and later went 
into the brickmaking business, at length go- 
ing into the regular contract building occu- 
pation and keeping a stock of builder's ma- 
terial. He superintended the construction 
of nearly all the larger buildings in the city, 
including churches, school houses, stores, the 
Masonic Temple and many private residen- 
ces. He secured a good many contracts for 
work in other counties and had a constant- 
ly increasing business. He disappeared sud- 
denly from the, city in 1893, and it w-as a 
long time before any of his friends knew of 
his whereabouts, and it was at first sup- 
posed he had committed suicide, but at 
length his wife rccci\cd a communication 
from Alberta, Canada, in 1896, conveying 
the information that he had died there and 
had told his companions where his wife and 
family lived. Mr. Mosser represented his 
ward fur manv vcars on the board of su- 



pervisors, and was several times honored by 
being elected as chairman of the board. 

James Haynes started the first planing- 
mill in the county, coming to the village 
of Clam Lake (now city of Cadillac) in 1872. 
He was born in Xew York in 1825, moving 
to Michigan with his father's family in 
1836. His mill was destroyed by fire in 
1877, 'i"*^! ^s showing the energy with which 
Mr. Haynes conducted business, it is re- 
lated that in just fifty-nine days after the 
fire another mill had been erected, the ma- 
chinery purchased and placed in position 
and the mill ready for business. Some time 
before his death IMr. Haynes associated his 
three sons with him in the business, the firm 
being known as James Haynes & Sons. One 
of the sons retired before the death of the 
father, the other two remaining and suc- 
ceeding to the business, which they still 
continue. Mr. Haynes held several im- 
portant village and city offices and served 
a part of one term as county treasurer, death 
overtaking him during his incumbency cf 
the office in 1889. 

.\ustin W. ^litchell came to Wexford 
county in 1S79 and his first business \enture 
was the purchase of a tract of pine land 
about four miles north of the city. This 
timber was manufactured by Bond & Kysor 
and quite a little village sprung up where 
their mill was located, the place being know n 
on the railroad maps as Bond's Mill, but 
ni)t a \estige of the place is left e.xcept the 
railroad siding. Mr. Mitchell was a member 
of the firm of Mitchell Brothers, who still 
do a heavy lumbering business in Missau- 
kee county and have a large handle factory 
in Cadillac. An incompatible domestic con- 
dition evidently jircyed upon his mind to 
such an extent that his friends persuaded 



IVEXFORD COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



305 



him to take a trip across the ocean to see 
it it would not Ijriiig a change for the bet- 
ter. According]}- he set sail from San Fran- 
cisco in the spring of 1902 in company with 
iiis physician. Dr. C. E. Miller, of Cadillac. 
When fi\-e days out Mr. Mitchell very sud- 
denly and unexpectedly leaped over the side 
of the ship and almost immediately sank to 
the bottom. It was a great l)k)w to his 
friends in this city and county, of whom he 
had a large circle. 

David A. Rice was one of the first at- 
torneys to locate in the village of Clam 
Lake. Mr. Rice first studied medicine witii 
a view of. becoming a physician, but changed 
his mind and took a law course at the uni- 
versity at Ann Arbor. He was admitted to 
the bar in Oceana county in 1870. At the 
commencement of the war of the Rebellion 
he enlisted in the Sixty-fifth Illinois Volun- 
teers. He was taken prisoner at the time of 
the surrender of Harper's Ferry, was 
pari lied and several months later exchanged, 
w hen he again joined his regiment, serving 
until the close of the war. He served the 
county as prosecuting attorney eight years 
in all, held different offices under the village 
and city organization, and also filled the 
office of supervisor of his ward one or two 
terms. He died at Ypsilanti, this state, in 
the fall of 1 90 1. 

Byron Ballon was one of the very first 
to settle in the \illage of Clam Lake; in 
fact, he came several months before the vil- 
lage was ])lalted. He was born in Cleve- 
land, Ohio, in 1827. He came with his fa- 
ther to A'psilanti. Michigan, in 1830, the 
journey being made with an ox team, as 
there was no public conveyance to be had 
in those days in that section of the state. 
It is related that food became .so scarce the 



first year that they had to resort to pound- 
ing corn on a stump preparatory to cooking 
it for the family. At the death of his father 
he went to live with an aunt in Kalamazoo 
in 1839, where he learned the trade of car- 
penter. His first business venture in this 
county was in the hardware line with John 
M. Cloud, the firm being known as Cloud 
& Ballon. Mr. Ballon was a radical Repul)- 
lican and often took the stump in the inter- 
ests of his party. Though not a gifted 
speaker, he ci^uld tell the plain truths in such 
a matter-of-fact way that they carried con- 
\iction. He was for several years chairman 
of the Republican county committee, twice 
held the office of postmaster in Cadillac and 
Clam Lake village, and was once elected 
mayor of the city. After severing his con- 
nection with Mr. Cloud, he conducted a 
fiour and feed store in the city for several 
years until he was forced to abandon work 
by reason of the intlrniitv of age. His death 
occurred in the winter of 1902. 

Samuel F. Long was another early set- 
tler in the village of Clam Lake, coming in 
the spring of 1873. ^^ ^^^^ born in Frank- 
lin county, Pennsylvania, in 1820. When 
twenty-two years of age he moved to Ohio, 
and one year later to Michigan. In the 
summer of 1862 he enlisted in the Sixth 
^lichigan Ca\alry, first serving with the 
Army of the Potomac and later was in the 
scouting ser\ice in the Shenandoah Valley, 
Virginia. He was discharged in July, 1865. 
I-'or the first five years after coming to Clam 
Lake he was in the employ of the Grand 
Rapids & Indiana Railroad Company. The 
next year he had charge of the H. N. Cireen 
water works, after which he had charge of 
M. H. Bond's grocery business for about 
two years. He held the office of justice of 



306 



J r EX FORD COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



the peace for eight years, at the same time 
doing something of a real estate and collec- 
tion business. He died in 1896, leaving a 
widow and five children. 

Holden N. Green was also an early pio- 
neer in the village of Clam Lake ; in fact, he 
arrived on the shore of Little Clam lake, 
now Lake Cadillac, nearly a year before the 
village was platted. lie first engaged in the 
lumber business in 1S71. and continued his 
operations in that line until 187S. It was 
during this latter year that he undertook 
the work of supplying the city with water. 
His engine house and pumps were built at 
the foot of West Harris street, nearly or 
quite on the site now occupied by the steam 
laundry. He operated this plant about 
fourteen years, during which time the build- 
ing was once destroyed by fire. Judge 
Green acquired his title by a four-years 
term as probate judge of Wexford county. 
He was born in Rusbville, New York, in 
1827, and when quite young he, with the 
rest of his father's family, mo\-ed ^vest, 
which meant in those days anywhere west 
of the western line of New York state. He 
was at one time engaged as mail carrier to 
and from Chicago, when that city was a 
mere hamlet. He ni;uried in Chicago and 
a sliurt lime afterward went to Manistee, 
and was there when that county was or- 
ganized, and became its first prosecuting at- 
torney. During his last five years' resi- 
dence in Cadillac his health so failed him 
that he was obliged to give up all work and 
remain indoors most of the time. Mr. 
Green served two or three terms as a mem- 
l)er of the board of supervisors of Wexford 
county, taking part in the memorable 
county-seat struggle that was waged for 
nearly a dozen years. During the latter part 



of 1893 ^^^ removed to Ypsilanti, where he 
remained until the summons of death 
reached him, in December, 1895. 

Henry F. May was one of the early 
business adventurers in the village of Clam 
Lake (now city of Cadillac), being a mem- 
ber of the firm of Holbrook & May, who 
engaged in the mercantile business in the 
new village in 1871. Mr. May was born in 
Plymouth, Alichigan, in 1842, receiving a 
common school education at that place. 
After coming to Clam Lake he was fre- 
quently elected to different offices, serving 
as village treasurer, village trustee, county 
superintendent of the poor and member of 
the Cadillac city board of education. In 
1878 he was elected to represent the Wex- 
ford-Grand Trax'crse district in the lower 
house of the Michigan legislature. A fevr 
years after he removed to Grand Rapids, 
where he lived until 1899, when death put 
an end to a long and useful career. 

Jonathan W. Cobbs came to Clam Lake 
village in 1872 from Butlerville, Indiana, 
where he had been engaged in the manufac- 
ture of hardwood lumber for a number of 
years. His first business venture in the new 
village was the purchase of what was then 
known as the Hall saw-mill, the first (inc 
built at Clam Lake. .\t first he ran the mill 
in cutting timber fur George A. Mitchell, 
but in 1877 'i*^ formed a partnership with 
Willi;un W. ]\litchell, the firm name fmm 
that time being Colibs & Mitchell. The firm 
prospered to a wonderful degree, and finallw 
in 1899, the firm was incorporated under the 
laws of the state. The firm purchased large 
tracts of pine land soon after its organiza- 
tion, and to give an idea of the extent of 
their lumbering operations while engaged in 
cutting pine, we quote from what has here- 



WEXFORD COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



307 



tofore been compiled relati\e td shipment of 
lumber in the 'eighties: "In 1880, 14,053- 
000 feet; 1881. 21,612,000 feet; 1882, 20,- 
1)66,000 feet; 1883, 26,924,000 feet; 1884, 
to June I, 11,111,000 feet. Lumber in 
yards, 17,000,000 feet." Mr. Cobbs (bed 
September 28, 1898, at the age of sixty-nine 
years, his son, Frank J. Coljbs, president of 
the Ca(Hllac State Bani<, succeeding his fa- 
ther in the hrm. A more detailed account 
of their present lumbering operations will 
be found in another part of this work. 

A. M. Lamb, a former resident of Cad- 
illac, was one of the very early pioneers in 
AV'exford ctjunty, ha\ing taken up a home- 
stead in 1865. At the death of his first wife, 
which occurred in the early "seventies, he 
caiue to what was then the village of Clam 
Lake and went into business. About the 
same time he was appointed one of the coun- 
ty superintendents of the poor, which office 
he held for several years. He finally sold 
out his business in Cadillac and removed to 
Grand Rapids, where he did a commission 
business for a number of years. He then 
came back to Cadillac, and was engaged in 
the fruit commission lousiness for some time, 
iiiiall}- returning to Crand Rapids, where he 
died in 1902. 

Georgiana L Wheeler came to Wexford 
ciiunty with her husband, J. H. Wheeler, in 
the fall of 1865, their westward journey 
being their wedding trip, as they started 
from western New York immediately fol- 
lowing their marriage ceremony. They 
came by boat from Buffalo to Traverse City, 
leaving the lake boat at Northport and mak- 
ing the trip up the Traverse Bay in the lit- 
tle "Sunny Side," the first l.ioat owned mid 
operated by Traverse City interests on the 
bay, and it took a week to make the trip at 



that time. They arrived in W'exford count)- 
the last d;i}- of (Ictober. They began house- 
keeping with one chair, a rocker, and one 
bed, using Mr. Wheeler's tool chest for a 
talile until he could make one of ]>ine boards. 
He also soon made a set of splint-bottom 
chairs and another rocker, and they were 
soon cosily established in their new home. 
Mrs. W'heeler was a school teacher and a 
music teacher, and in later years took an 
acti\e part in temperance work and con- 
tributed occasionally to the columns of the 
Wexford County Pioneer after that paper 
was established, and when her husband 1)e- 
came the owner of the paper she did a large 
amount of the work on its local columns, 
besides editing the Woman's Christian Tem- 
perance Union department. Her untimely 
death, in 1882, was a shock to the whole 
community and her funeral was attended by 
the largest gathering ever, to that time, 
seen in Sherman on such occasions. The 
following is taken from the columns of the 
Pioneer having the account of her death : 
"Not many refined and talented }-oung ladies 
of the present day, who delight in social 
intercourse and pleasant surroundings, 
W(juld think that they could go away back 
into an almost unbroken wilderness, one 
hundred and twenty-five miles from the 
nearest railroad, with six months of the 
year practically closed to all outside com- 
munication, except the slow, tedious over- 
land mail, which only enabled a person to 
get an answer to a letter after four or fi\-e 
weeks of anxious waiting, their little li>g 
house, twehe by sixteen feet in size, con- 
stituting kitchen, ])antry, bed-room, sitting- 
room and parlor, the onI\' partitions being 
imaginary lines on the puncheon floor; their 
nearest neighbor half or three-fourths of a 



308 



IVEXFORD COUNTY. MICHIGAN. 



mile distant, and the only road thereto being 
a hnc of blazed trees through the dense for- 
est. Vet true love conquers all difficulties 
and laughs at all privations, and when man's 
strong arm is nerxed by a noi)le woman's 
love, the densest forest will melt away; 
houses, mills and work shoj^s will grow up. 
and the grandeur of happy homes and noble 
aspirations will so fill the heart that their 
memory can never be effaced. Such the 
love, such the privations, such the fruition 
and such the memory." 

We give place to the following little 
gem, written a year after i\Irs. Wheeler's 
death : 

I've been out to the old homestead to-day, Georgia, 

but 'twas with sad and lonely heart 
That I viewed the scenes of bygone years — their 

memory seemed to dart 
Like a gleaming blade through the misty shade of the 

half forgotten past, 
And .carry me back on its glimmering track to the 

pleasures that could not last. 

I saw once again the little log house with its bark- 
covered roof as of yore; 

Its one tiny window, its one narrow door, its old 
fashioned, rude punchion lloor; 

The tall trees all 'round thickly studding the ground, 
so the sunlight could scarcely creep in, 

And you, my fond wife, the joy of my life, making 
sunshine and gladness within. 

How the warmth of that glorious sunlight 'round the 

heart's deep emotions did twine! 
Its brightness made my life so happy I Its refle.x 

brought pleasure to thme! 
And life's silv'ry stream, like a beautiful dream, 

stretched forth to our wondering gaze 
'Neath the magical flame that silently came through 

the glint of its soul-stirring rays. 

Oh, those happy old pioneer days, Georgia! What 

pen can their grandeur recall? 
What artist can paint half their beauties? What 

poetic rapture enthrall 
The senses, and make such echoes awake, in the heart, 

'though 'tis sadilened and lone, 
Like the memory of days we see through the haze, of 

the years that are faded and gone. 



Ah,- yes, they have gone to decay, Georgia! Their 

phantoms are all that remain; 
The heart, then so light and so buoyant, now beats to 

a mournful refrain; 
For the beauties of youth, with its freshness, its truth, 

its hope, its ambition, its trust, 
Have perished and died, and lie side by side with the 

forms that now moulder to dust. 

Yet, I would not forget those glad days, Georgia, 

iheir mem'ry's too sacred and dear — 
Though they bring to the heart keenest anguish, and 

moisten the eye with a tear — 
I cherish them still. The heart will e'er thrill, as the 

vision recurs to its gaze. 
Of the joys that were ours in those happy hours — 

those blissful old pioneer days. 

Rinaldi) b'uller came to the county in 
1880, settling in the village of Manton, 
where he soon went into the drug business. 
He was born in Canada in 1841, lived sev- 
eral years in Ontonogan, Michigan, and two 
vears in Ingham countv. He then wetit 
west to Kansas, where he remained two and 
a half years. He served three or four terms 
as president of the village of Manton, two 
terms as township treasurer, besides various 
other local offices. He was the Republican 
candidate for county treasurer in 1890. but 
was defeated by James fvansoni in the 
Democratic landslide of that year. Soon 
after he scild out his business at Manton 
and removed to Traverse City. He went 
into the drug business again at Interlocken, 
Grand Traverse county, where he died a few 
years ago. 

James M. Brown was born in Chatau- 
qua county. New York, in 18.25. His par- 
ents removed to Pennsylvania in 1835 and 
to Ottawa county, Michigan, in 1844. He 
kept a hotel at Byron, Kent county. Michi- 
gan, Jive years and was engaged in mercan- 
tile business for several years before he 
came to this county in 1873. He kept a 
little iiotel at Manton the first vear after his 



WEXFORD COUNTY. MICHIGAN. 



309 



arrival, and tlien purchased a farm one mile 
west of tiiat village, and for se\'eral )ears 
led the dii;d life of landlord and farmer. He 
was county superintendent of the poor six 
years, and filled the office of justice of tlie 
peace and other township offices for several 
years. His death occurred in 1899 at his 
hon.ie in Cedar Creek. 

F. A. Jamison was one of Manton's suc- 
cessful merchants, haxing located in that 
village in 1877. At first he engaged in the 
grocery bvtsiness only, but later added dry 
goods and boots and shoes. He was born in 
Ottawa county, Michigan, in 1842, and 
died at his home in Manton in 1891. 

Hon. Thomas A. Ferguson was born in 
Iosco, Livingston county, Michigan, Sep- 
tember 2, 1839. He enlisted in the spring 
of 1864, serving in the Army of the Cum- 
berland. Was promoted to first lieutenant, 
and mustered out at the close of the war in 
1865. Soon after his return from the army 
he entered the law department of the Michi- 
gan University, at Ann Arbor, where he 
was graduated in 1869. He came to Wex- 
ford county in the summer of that year, 
being the first lawyer to settle in the new 
county just organized. Fie was appointed 
prosecuting attorney of the county and held 
the office until December, 1872. He was 
elected a member of the house of representa- 
tives. IMichigan legislature, in 1872, and re- 
elected in 1874. He removed from Sher- 
man to Manton in 1877, and went into the 
lumbering business under the firm name of 
P.randenburg, Backus & Company. The firm 
failed in a short time after he became inter- 
ested in it. and investigation showed that 
it was on the verge of collapse when he was 
induced to go into it. He then commenced 
to deal ill pine lands, and w^as quite suc- 



cessful. Mr. Ferguson was left a widower 
in 1S74, his wife dying December 19th of 
that year, leaving an infant daughter, now 
the wife of V. C. Wall, proprietor of the 
Wexford County Grist Mill at Sherman. 
He never remarried. Mr. Ferguson was an 
active and shrew-d politician, taking part in 
all political campaigns. He was chairman 
of the Republican cnunty committee at the 
time of his death, which occurred in 1883. 
Leroy P. Champenois was born April 
19, 1840, near Adrian, Michigan. His fa- 
ther was one of the early settlers in that 
part of the state, and during the 'fifties, 
when the agitation of the slavery question 
was at its height and the Dred Scott decis- 
ion and the fugitive slave law had so 
aroused the anti-slavery people of the 
northern states, he kept a station on what 
was called the "underground railroad." 
Many well-informed people of today will 
not comprehend what was meant by the 
"underground railroad." It was simply 
this : When a slave managed to escape 
from his master and reach the northern 
bank of the Ohio river he knew, in nine 
cases out of ten, just where he could find a 
friend who would shield him from the 
search of his master and would convey him 
or pilot him to some other friend farther 
toward Canada, where he could not be 
reached by his enraged and baffled master. 
Sometimes these fugitives were carried in 
wagons underneath loads of hay or straw ; 
sometimes in boxes or barrels, and some- 
times they were piloted, during the darkness 
of the night, through forests and fields, 
avoiding the pulilic highw'ays in the fear of 
coming in contact with the slave hunter or 
his equally dangerous ally, the northern 
"doughfaces," for be it known that the fugi- 



310 



WEXFORD COUNTY. .MICHIGAN. 



tive sla\e law made every sheriff and con- 
stalile in the whole country a slave hunter 
and every northern jail a slave pen. These 
stopping places for the poor escaped slave 
were called "stations." and this stealthy 
manner of transportation was called the 
"underground railroad." Leroy early im- 
bibed this intense anti-slavery feeling of his 
father, and when the cr_\- of war sounded 
through the country, at the hring upon Fort 
Sumter, he was one of the first to respond 
to Lincoln's call for seventy-five thousand 
three-months men. He participated in the 
first battle of Bull Run, and at the expira- 
tion of his first term re-enlisted for three 
years. When the matter of organization of 
negro regiments was undertaken he secured 
a commission as lieutenant and was trans- 



ferred to one of those regiments. He was 
severely wounded in one of the engagements 
near Holly Springs, losing all of his right 
hand except the thumb and index finger, 
and npiin bis recovery was assigned to a 
position on the staff of General Smith, 
where he ser\ed until the close of the war. 
He came to Wexford county in 1866, and 
settled in what is now Wexford township. 
At the organization of the countv. in i86g. 
he was elected the first count\- clerk and 
register of deeds, which ofticc be held lor 
two years. He held \-arious township 
offices, served two terms as county school 
examiner, and four years as postmaster at 
Sherman. He died at his home in Sherman 
in 1902, leaving a widow who survived him 
but a few months. 



CHAPTER Xil. 



OLD PIONEERS WHO H.WE REMOVED FROM OUR MIDST. 



riionias J. Tborpe came- to \\'exford 
county in the fall of 1 S7 1 . .and took up a 
bonicstcad in the township of Selma. It 
was then necessary to come by way of Trav- 
erse City, and it took two full days to go 
from that place to Mr. Thorpe's homestead. 
.Mr. riiorpe was born in Allegany county. 
New "N'ork, in 1S37. l-'roni a sketch of Mr. 
Thorpe's cru'ly life we (|uote the following: 
"Al llie breaking out of the Rebellion he 
enlisted in the Eigbtv-fiftb New York Regi- 



ment; ser\c<l with distinction during the 
Peninsular campaign; was wounded twice 
during the seven-davs fight when ( ieneral 
McClellan changed his base of operations 
from the Pamunky to the James river, once 
at Fair Oaks and again at Malvern Hill; 
in 1862 he was made lieutenant colonel of 
the One Hundred and Thirtieth New York 
Infantry. Aflor the liattle of Getty.sbnrg, 
Pennsyh'ania, bis regiment was niotnUed 
and afterwards known as the famous b^irst 



WEXFORD COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



311 



New York Dragoons, and took an active 
part in all the great cavalry battles nntil the 
close of the war. In June, i8f>4, he was 
wounded and taken prisoner at Travillion, 
Virginia. On the Fourth of July of that 
year, while a prisoner in the stockade at 
Macon, Georgia, Colonel Thorpe made a 
Fourth of July speech, which was inter- 
preted as incendiary, and for whicli he was 
taken out of the stockade to Ije hung, but 
the Confederate authorities became con- 
vinced from the demonstration made by the 
two thousand prisoners in tire stockade that 
the safety of the city of Macon, as well as 
the li\'es of their guard, would be better con- 
ser\ed bv returning him to the stockade, 
which was done at the close of that day. In 
December, 1864, lie was made a full colonel 
of his regiment for meritorious conduct on 
the field. July 17th of the same year he 
was honorably discharged from the service 
of the United States, after a service of four 
years and seventeen days, during which time 
he participated in forty-six engagements." 

After a stay of over a year in the county. 
Colonel 1'horpe went back east, and for 
live years he had charge of a large public 
school in the city of Buffalo, New York. He 
then went into the school book business 
for the .\. S. Barnes rublishing Com- 
pany, of New York, covering several 
midtlle and western states, and making 
two Irips to the Pacific coast. lie re- 
turned to his Wexford county farm in 
1879, and in 1880 was elected clerk and 
register on the Republican county ticket, 
lie was re-elected in iS8j, and was re-nomi- 
nated in 1 81X4, but defeated by George .\. 
Cummer. He took an active part in the 
struggle which resulted in the renrnxal ol 
the countv seat from Sherman tn Cadillac 



via Manton. He was a talented speaker and 
could hold an audience, no matter what the 
subject under discussion might be. In politi- 
cal cam|)aigns his ser\-ices were in great de- 
mand, bdth in his home county and in sur- 
rounding counties. After his defeat for a 
third term as clerk and register he remox'ed 
to Chicago, where he remained se\'eral years 
and at last went into the educational work, 
which was his delight. 

Silas S. Falloss was the first attorney to 
settle in the village of Clam Lake, arriving 
in the suinmer of J 872. He was elected 
prosecuting attorney the same fall. He 
served one term as circuit judge and was a 
member of the board of superxisors for sl'\-- 
eral vears. In 1884 he remoxed to Chicago 
and resumed the practice of law in that cit)', 
making that his home until the present time. 

John Mansfield was l)orn in Connecticut 
in 1842. At the breaking out of the Civil 
war he enlisted in the First New York Ca\-- 
alrv and served to the end of the war. He 
came to Wexford county in 1872 and took 
up a homestead on section 12, in what is 
now Boon township, at the same time pur- 
cliasing another c|uarter section adjoining 
the homestead, later buying another eighty- 
acre piece, making foiu' hundred acres in all. 
Being a practical farmer and a hard w(jrker, 
lie soon had sufificient land cleared to begin 
to realize a profit from the crops he raised. 
Being of Irish descent, he had great faith in 
potatoes, and devoted a large part of his 
land to the cultivation of that crop, raising 
from five hundred to four thousand bushels 
a vear. Another crt:>p he found \ery profit- 
able was ha_\'. Being in close proximity to 
the lumber camps in the vicinity of Cadil- 
lac on the east and the Manistee river on 
the west, he could start out on a winter's 



312 



Jl' EX FORD COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



morning with a load of hay or potatoes, 
(h'spose of it at camp and reach home by 
niglitfall. He served liis township several 
years as super\isor, and in 1880 was elected 
(I lunty treasurer, serving two terms. In 
iSy4 lie was elected judge of probate, filling 
tlie office for eight years. At the expiration 
of this service he sold his farm and removed 
to Newaygo county, where he still resides. 

Capt. C. K. Russell came to Cadillac in 
]Hji). ])urcliasing the American House, 
wliich he managed for over fifteen years, 
lie was a native of Xew York, where he 
was born in 1826. He started out to be a 
sailor, and so well did he apply himself to 
the work that he became master of a vessel 
at the age of twenty-one, after which he was 
always familiarlv known as "Captain Rus- 
sell." He enlarged ruid inii)ro\-ed the hotel 
])ru])erty. making it one ol the liest public 
imiises in tlie city. or. in fact, north of 
( irand Ra])ids. Becoming at length some- 
wiiat tired of the hotel business, and having 
saved a nice sum of money in the meantime, 
he removed to Grand Rapids in 1891, w-here 
he still resides. He makes occasional visits 
to Cadillac, having still .some landed inter- 
ests in tliis city to look after. 

Daniel McCoy, formerly a Wexford 
county lumberman, and now state treasurer 
of Michigan, was liorn in Philadelphia, 
Penn.sylvania, in 1845, and lived in that city 
until 1867. when he came to Michigan, lo- 
cating in i\lacomb county, where he lived 
until 187.^. when he went into the lumbering 
liusiness on the Manistee river. In 1873 he 
transferred the scene of his operations to 
the village of C lam Lake, purchasing quite 
an extensive tract of ])inc land and erecting 
a large saw-null alxml one mile north of 
the \illage. lie remained a resident of 



Clam Lake, now Cadillac, until 1883, when 
he removed to Grand Rapids, Michigan. 
He filled the oflices of president of the vil- 
lage and mayor of the city. He was chair- 
man of the ^^'exford county Republican 
committee for several years, and only once 
was he known to wa\er in his support of 
that party. That was when Hon. Jay A. 
Hubbell, of Houghton, was in the field for 
the office of United States senator from 
.Michigmi. Mr. McCov was an ardent Hub- 
bell man anil tried hard to secure the nomi- 
nation of a candidate for representative in 
the legislature who would support Mr. Hub- 
bell for senator. In the strife which oc- 
curred in the representative convention, 
which lasted two days and in which nearly 
two hundred ballots were taken, the coun- 
ties of Kalkaska. Lake and Missaukee, which 
with Wexford count)' constituted the rc])- 
re.sentative district. ])ooled their issues and 
drew lots as to which of the three candidates 
from those counties should receive the nomi- 
nation. The lot fell to A. A. .\bbott. of 
Kalkaska, and he was accordingly nomi- 
nated. Mr. Abbott was an anti-Hubl)ell 
man, and Mr. McCoy undertook the task 
of bringing about his defeat. He prevailed 
upon a frieiid by the naiue of Bonnell, of 
Missaukee county, with Deiuocratic lean- 
ings, to aiuiounce himself an independent 
candidate lor representative. This was done 
and Mr. Bomiell was endorsed by the Denw- 
cratic representative co.n\ention. This did 
not alarm the Republicans of the district, 
as it was normally Republican by over a 
thousand majority, but when the vote was 
canvassed it apj)eared that the lumber camps 
around the Clam lakes and in Missaukee 
county had cast an almost soliil vote for the 
independent candidate and he was elected 



WEXFORD COUNTY,- MICHIGAN. 



313 



I)y a small majority, and Mr. Bonnell was 
one of the very small minority who caused 
a deadlock in the legislature, preventing the 
re-election of T. W. Ferry to the United 
States senate and causing the election of a 
compromise candidate. After removing to 
Grand Rapids Mr. McCoy organized the 
Edison Light Company, and in 1892 he or- 
ganized the State Bank of Michigan, being- 
elected president of both corporations, which 
positions he has continued to hold until the 
present time. I le was elected state treasurer 
in 1900 by a plurality of 99,706, and a clear 
majority of 83,386. He was re-elected in 
1902 by a plurality of 74,335 and a clear 
majority of 58,266, on a vote that was 146,- 
944 less than the vote of 1900. 

H. C. McFarlan was one of the success- 
ful merchants in Manton, locating in that 
village in 1874. He carried a full line of 
general merchandise and did a very lucra- 
tive l)usiness. He was born in Wayne coun- 
ty, Michigan, in 1848, and in 1862, at the 
age of fourteen years, he enlisted in the 
Twenty-seventh Michigan Infantry, but 
was soon afterward discharged. He then 
went into the Sixth Michigan Infantry, and 
served until the end of the war. After his 
army service he led the life of a sailor for 
six years (jn the lakes. An estrangement 
between him and his wife led to a final sep- 
aration some time in the early 'nineties, and 
he sold out his business at Manton and for 
a year or two his Wexford county friends 
lost sight of him. He finally went into busi- 
ness again in Williamsburg, Grand Trav- 
erse county, where he still resides. 

H. F. Campbell was born in Quincy, 
Michigan, in 1852, his parents removing to 
Grand Ledge, Eaton county, Michigan, in 
i86r, where he lived until he came to Wex- 



f(jrtl county in 1876. He had worked on 
the Grand Ledge Independent at the print- 
er's trade, having acquired a good degree 
of proficiency in that line before coming to 
Wexford county. His first work in the 
county was on the Cadillac News. After a 
short time in Cadillac he went to Sherman 
and worked in the Pioneer office for some 
time, finally purchasing a half interest in 
that paper, with J. H. Wheeler as the other 
half owner, the company being known as 
Campbell & Wheeler. Mr. Campbell lost 
his first wife by death some time before 
coming to this county, and in 1880 he mar- 
ried Miss Lizzie Cummings, of Conneaut, 
Ohio. Soon after this second marriage he 
sold out his interest in the Pioneer and re- 
mo\-ed to Manton. He held the Sherman 
post<.)tfice for two years, resigning his po- 
sition upim his change of resilience. In 1883 
he recei\ed the appointment of postmaster 
at Manton, which office he held for four 
years. Soon after his appointment as post- 
master he purchased the Manton Tribune, 
which he sold when he left the postoffice, 
and soon afterward moved back to Sher- 
man. In 1S92 he was elected to the legis- 
lature from the We.xford district, serving 
two terms in that body. He was engaged 
in the drug business at the time of his elec- 
tion and finally quit that and for several 
years he has been on the road selling drugs 
and perfumes. He is now living in Grand 
Rapids, Michigan. 

B. Woods was born in Albany, New 
York, in 1847, his father moving to Lock- 
port, New York, in 1850, where they lived 
until 1865. Mr. Woods then left home and 
went to Oil City, Pennsylvania, which was 
then the center of the oil operations of that 
state, and. in fact, of the winkle world. Here 



314 



WEXFORD COUXTV. MICHIGAX. 



lie worked about six months and then went 
to fh'and Rapids, Michigan, wiiere he en- 
tered the employ of Cook & Skinner, stage 
coacli proprietors. In 1870 he came to 
Wexford county, driving the first stage 
coach o\er the new mail route established 
on the Newaygo and Northport state road 
from Cedar Springs to Tra\erse City. He 
sunn (|uit the stage and went intu the hotel 
Ijusiness at Sherman, in which he remained 
until 1S74. He then, in company with E. 
(jilbcrt. secured the mail route between 
Sherman and Mantnn. and also between 
Sherman and Traver.se City. He finally pur- 
chased Mr. Gilbert's interest in the business 
and followed it until the routes were discon- 
tinued. He engaged in the drug business, 
in company with Dr. F. E. Corbin, in 1881, 
continuing in this until he removed to 
Helena, Abmlinia. in iSSfi. in which state 
he still lives. 

\\'illiam Dcrr was born in Salem, Co- 
lumbiana county, Ohio, in 1846. He came to 
Grand Traverse region in 1866, stopping 
first in Grand Traverse county, where he 
worked several years in tiie lumber camps 
in the winter and on farms in the summer. 
He came to Sherman, Wexford county, in 
1872, and took up the occupation of stage 
driver, the mail route then being from Clam 
Lake to Traverse City via Sherman. He 
was engaged in this work for six years, a 
part of the time as proprietor of the line and 
part nf the time as driver only. In 1878 he 
went into I. H. Maqueston's grist-mill as 
assistant, under Mr. Bennett. After a 
coi;|)le of years' service he became so pro- 
ficient that he was given full charge of the 
mill, which he managed to the entire satisfac- 
tion of his employer and the pulilic at large. 
After some seven or eight vears' work in 



the mill he bought a farm in Wexford 
ti>wnship and turned his attention again to 
farming. Owing to the protracted illness 
of his wife he decided to move west, think- 
ing the change might improve her health. 
He chose what was then the territory of 
Washington as his future home. The 
change did not bring the benefit hoped for 
to his wife, who died a few months after 
reaching their new home. Mr. Derr will 
long be remembered by the residents of the 
county in those days, both for his sturdy 
and genial characteristics and his Jehu-like 
driving on the mail routes. He still lives in 
Washington. 

Moses Cole was one of the early pio- 
neers in W^exford county, settling on a 
homestead in what is now W'exford town- 
ship in 1867. He was born in Niagara 
county. New York, in 1836, and came to 
Michigan in 1857, fixing for several years 
near Detroit, and for three years having 
charge of a toll-gate on the Detroit and Erie 
plank road at Conner's Creek. He traded 
his homestead for village property in Sher- 
man, and purchased a half interest in the 
saw-mill which was situated one and a 
fourth miles east of Sherman village on a 
stream known as Cole's creek. He replaced 
the muley saw with a circular, and at one 
time had a shingle mill in connection with 
the saw-mill. He sold out his interest in 
the mill in the early 'nineties and removed 
to Grayling, Michigan, where he still lives. 

Frank D. Ho])kins. a former merchant 
at Sherman, was born in Livingston county, 
Michigan, in J 856. He was a messenger 
boy in the Michigan state senate during the 
sessions of 1874-5 and 1877-8. He came t(5 
Sherman, Wexford county, in 1876, and for 
.several years was emplo\ed in driving team 



WEXFORD COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



315 



and (lri\iiig tlie stage frr in Sherman to 
Manlon. after whicli he entered tJie enipli^v 
of H. B. Sturtevant as clerk in the latter's 
store. In iSSi lie went to Grand Rapids 
to take a coinniercial course, and in 1883 
purchased a Iialf interest in Mr. Sturte- 
\'ant's store, Later liecoming sole owner. 
After a few months he sold out and went on 
the road as traveling salesman for a De- 
troit firm. He soon after purchased a drug 
store at Alba, Micliigan, where he remained 
in business until lire destroyed his stock in 
1893, after which he returned to Sherman, 
\W'xford county, and entered the store of 
E. (iilbert & Company as salesman. He re- 
moxed to southern Michigan after a short 
stay at Sherman, and is now a resident of 
St. Louis, Missouri. 

L. A. A\ery came to Grand Traverse 
county in 1863 from Steuben county. New 
York, where he was born in 1835. He first 
settled near Monroe Center on a homestead 
claim, clearing up a farm and working at 
his trade, that of a blacksmith, until 1874, 
when he moved to Sherman, Wexford 
county, built a blacksmith shop, and for 
nearl_\- twenty years carried on this business, 
to which he added the wagon repairing 
business. He mo\ed to southern Michigan 
some nine rir ten }ears ago. and now lives 
a few miles north of Petoskey on the Grand 
Rapids & Indiana Railroad, where he still 
works at his trade. 

1). \'. Emmons was born in Oakland 
county, Michigan, in 1841. He enlisted in 
the Third Michigan Infantry in June, 1S61, 
ser\ing three \ears in the Arniv of the Po- 
tiiniac. lie was in tlie first real battle of 
the Civil war at I'.ull Run. and in many of 
the battles fought by the eastern army. He 
came to Wexford count \' in iSj.S, .-ind en- 



gaged in the drug business in Sherman. He 
continued in this occupation until 1886, 
when he bought an eighty-acre farm on sec- 
tion 5 in Antioch and engaged in the occu- 
pation of farming. After three or four 
years at this business he mo\ed to Allegan 
county, Michigan, and later went to Gales- 
burg, Michigan, and purchased a flouring- 
mill. He was still operating this mill at last 
tidings from him. 

H. H. Skinner, the iirst sheriff of Wex- 
ford county, took up a homestead on section 
4 in Wexford township in 1865. He had 
served several years in the army prior to 
locating in Wexford county, and in conse- 
quence of the infirmities brought on by army 
exposure his health became so poor that he 
had to abandon his farm, and finally, some 
eight years ago, he was obliged to accept 
the state's proffer of aid to the ex-soldiers 
and entered the Soldiers' Home at Grand 
Rapids. Michigan. 

E. D. Abbott, formerly sheriff of Wex- 
ford county, was born in Sodus. Wavne 
county, New York, in 1841.. On the 26th 
of February, 1864, he enlisted in Company 
K. First New York Dragoons, afterwartls 
known as Comjiany C. Nineteenth New 
York Ca\alry. He served until June J", 
1865, when he recei\'ed an honorable dis- 
charge. Not content to settle <k)wn to the 
old life in the east, he determined to take 
Horace Greeley's advice to "Go west, young 
man. go west." and in November. 1867, he 
reached Wexford county, taking up a home- 
stead five miles west of the village of Man- 
ton, although it was five years before that 
\illage was thought of. Upon the resigna- 
lion of Joseph Sturr. who was elected sher- 
iff of Wexfor<l couiitv in 1S70 and mo\ed 
to southern Micliiti'an soon after entering 



316 



WEXFORD COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



iipdn the duties of the office. Mr. Abljott 
was a|)]M)iiUe(l to lill out the l)alauce of the 
term. At the following election in 1872 
Mr. .\l)l)ott was elected to the otfice he had 
acceptably filled, and held the office during 
the years 1873 and 1874. He then went 
into tlie drug store of M. S. Emmons at 
Sherman, and has made that business his 
prini.-i|)al occupation since. He now owns 
a drug store at Alba, Michigan, having re- 
sic'ed at that place for the past eight or ten 
years. 

Henry Clark came to Wexford county 
in 1868, liis occupation at tiiat time being 
land looker and timber estimator, and he 
came in the interest of those who were de- 
sirous of getting the choicest selections of 
pine lands, of which tliere were many thou- 
sands of acres in the county at that time. It 
uas largely through his efforts, together 
with those of his uncle, Syl\ estei Clark, that 
the county seat was located where the vil- 
lage i>f Sherman now stands, instead of a 
mile farther north ;it the Manistee river. 
It was also largely tin-ough his influence 
that the Maqueston Brotliers, Isaac H. and 
R. G., wlio were the first merchants to lo- 
cate in the county, were induced to come 
into what was then an almost unbroken wil- 
derness. .After a few years' residence, dur- 
ing which he married .Mice Fox, he went 
with his bride to li\e in llig Rapids, and 
;ifter a short stav there they removed to 
(irand Rapids, .\1iout the year 1880 he 
moved to Duluth. where he li\-ed until the 
death of his wife, which occurred in 1885. 
After this sad event he left Duluth and re- 
sumed his old occupation of timber esti- 
mator, finally taking u]) a homestead near 
Two Harbors, Minnesota, where he has 
since resided. He has never remarried, his 
son Xcil being his only comp.'uiion in their 



little caljin on the homesteail until a year 
ago. when the latter married Dura, the 
ilaughter of .Mi. and Mrs. S. Casser, of 
Sherman, Wexford county, and took her 
to the backwoods home in Minnesota. 

Alonzo Chubb was born in Monroe 
county, New York, in 1823. His people 
mo\ed to Michigan soon after the state was 
admitted to the Cnion. Mr. Chubb enlisted 
soon alter the beginning of tlie war of the 
Rebellion in the One Hundred and h'ifth 
Ohio Volunteers, serving two years, at the 
end of which time he was mustered out on ac- 
count of wounds and sickness, having at- 
tained the rank of lieutenant. In 1867, he 
came to northern Michigan, settling in what 
is now the township of Cleon, Manistee 
county. He often tells of how he wintered 
some jiigs he brought with him when he 
moved into the wuods. The snow got so 
deep t'.iat it was impossible to get to Trav- 
erse (."ity, the onlv place where feed could 
be procured, and as a last resort he drove 
them to the woods with the rest of his stock 
to see if the}' would "browse." To his utter 
surprise they took right hold of the tender 
maple twigs and lived on a '"browse" diet 
the balance of the winter. Mr. Chubb also 
says that there are not many people who can 
truthfully boast of holding office in two 
counties, li\ing in two representative and 
two senatorial districts, and yet never chang- 
ing his residence from the town he first set- 
tled in. Of course this state of affairs came 
aljout by reason of the township of t'lcon 
ha\ing been attached to this county for a 
number of years, during which time Mr. 
Chubb served a term of four years as judge 
of probate of Wexford county. He is still 
hale and hearty at the age of eighty and has 
a real estate oif'ice in the village of L()])eni- 
ish. in Manistee countx'. 




JOHN H. WHEELER 



BIOGRAPHICAL. 



JOHX II. WHEELER. 

Jolin H. Wheeler was born in Cattarau- 
gus county, New York. April 19, 1840. He 
was brought up on a farm until about eigh- 
teen years of age, when he went to work at 
the carpenter's trade, soon mastering it so 
that he could take charge of any ordinary 
work in that line. In September, 1861, he 
enlisted in the Forty-fourth Regiment, New 
York Volunteers, known as "The Ellsworth 
Avengers." He was mustered out in Octo- 
ber, 1864. at the expiration of his term of 
enlistment. He took part in some of the 
'lardest fought battles of the Civil war, 
among which were Caine"s Mills. Savage 
Station, White Oak Swamp, Malvern Hill, 
Ciettysl)urg, Mine Run, the Wilderness and 
Spottsyhania Court House, besides numer- 
ous engagements of lesser note. He was on 
detached duty during the winter of 1862-3, 
superintending the construction of barracks 
lor a convalescent c:nnp ahoul three miles 
Southwest from Alexandria, \'irginia. 

October 17, i8C)3. Mr. Wheeler was mar- 
ried to (k'lirgiana 1. Vn\, wliom he had met 
while hnnie nn an inxalid furlnugh in the 
summer of 1863. I le started on his wedding 
da\- for Wexford county, where he arri\'ed 



October 31, se\'ere storms on the lakes de- 
laying the Ijoat several days during the 
trip. He took u]) a homestead on section 
30, in w hat is now Hanover township, and 
at once commenced work on the construc- 
tion of a saw-mill. This mill was the first 
frame structure erected in the county, and 
as soon as it was started and the necessary 
lumber could be cut out Mr. Wheeler put 
up the first frame house that was built in 
the county. 

Mr. Wheeler was the first treasurer of 
the county and held the office for two years 
at that time, and was again elected county 
treasurer in 1898 and re-elected in 1900. 
.-Vfter running" the saw-mill a few years, he 
resumed his occupation of builder, and se- 
cured the contract for building the court 
house at Sherman and other large buildings, 
such as stores, hotel, school-houses and 
many private dwellings. He was supervisor 
of .Sherman, Concord and Antioch town- 
ships for ten years, during two of which he 
w;is chairman of the board of supervisors 
of the county. In the summer of 1878 lie 
purchased a one half interest in the Wex- 
ford (_'ounty Pioneer, and two years later 
became the sole owner of that paper, which 
he retained until January 7, 1891. He was 



318 



WEXFORD COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



appointed postmaster of the Sherman post- 
oftice ill jamiarv. i8So. and held the office 
nearly hve years. Me received the appoint- 
ment of census enumerator in 1880 and took 
the census of five towns in the northwest 
corner of the county, including the township 
of Cleon, now in Manistee county, but then 
a part of Wexford county. He has filled 
the ofiice nf county superintendent of 
])oor, secretary of the Republican county 
committee, and ser\ed two years as great 
sachem of the Impro\ed Order of Red ]\Ien 
of Michigan. 

Mrs. Wheeler died October 8, 1882, leav- 
ing two daughters (two sons having died in 
their infancy), one of whom still lives in the 
county and the other at Lansing, Michigan. 
Two years later Mr. Wheeler married Ella, 
daughter of ex-Sheriff W. W. Bartlett, of 
Grand Traverse county, h'or the past four 
years Mr. Wheeler has been engaged in buy- 
ing and selling timbered lands, in company 
with Judge Chittenden, of Cadillac. They 
also arc pn ijirictors of a large addition to tlie 
chv. 



GEORGE A. MITCHELL. 

1 he name of this pul)lic-spirited and in- 
fluential citizen will always be inseparably 
associated with the history of Cadillac, as 
he was the founder of the city and for many 
years so closely identified with its growth 
and material development as to be called the 
real father of the i)lace. In October, 1871, 
the village of Clam Lake was platted under 
his direction and the lots put upon the mar- 
ket and sul)se(|uently when the name was 
changed to the one it now bears he took a 
leading part in the transaction and contrib- 



uted more ])erhaps than any other man of 
his day to tlie wonderful ])rosperit\- which 
then began to manifest and which has since 
characterized the city's growth. 

The family of which George A. Mitchell 
was an honorable representative is traceable 
to an early period in the history of the col- 
onies and the name was quite prominent in 
xarious parts of Xcw iLugland long before 
the .\merican struggle for independence. 
His paternal grandfather, a Revolutionary 
hero and an officer in the colonial army, was 
a man of prominence and great influence and 
so dreaded was he by the British that emis- 
saries were sent to effect his arrest with or- 
ders to take him "dead or alive." Charles 
Mitchell, the subject's father, was a farmer 
by occupation and is remembered as a man 
of sterling character and great industry, but 
by no means successful in the accumulation 
of worldly wealth. He married Lydia Brown, 
who was a lineal descendant of Robert Bar- 
clav. one of the old colonial governors (if 
Xcw Jersey and a man whose name is inti- 
mately associated with the early history of 
that commonwealth. To Charles and Lydia 
Mitchell were born twelve children, several 
of whom became prominent in various voca- 
tions, one of the number, Hon. William 
Mitchell, having represented an Indiana dis- 
trict in the congress of the L'nited States in 
the early 'sixties and acquired a national 
reputation as a statesman. George .-\.. the 
youngest member of the family, was born 
January 8, 1824. in Root, Montgomery 
county. New York, and grew to maturity 
on his father's farm, remaining at home un- 
til 1843. when he went to Spraker's Basin, 
and began clerking in a store. Seven years 
later he accepted a similar ptisition in a mer- 
cantile establishment at Canajoharie, and af- 



ly EX FORD COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



319 



ter spending some time in that town engaged 
in the tanning bnsiness at Black Lake, New- 
York, with a partner by the name of Strong. 
Subsequently, in 1861, he disposed of his in- 
terest in this enterprise and removed to 
northern Indiana, settling at Kendalh'ille, 
whither his older l:)rother, William, had pre- 
ceded him. the latter having been tlie real 
founder of that now flourishing western 
city. 

At the breaking out of the great Re- 
bellion I\lr. Mitchell was appointed, in Aug- 
ust, i8C)i, to the responsible position of pay- 
master in the army, with headquarters at 
St. Louis, Missouri. In that exacting office 
his superior business ability found full scope 
for its exercise and so thorough and method- 
ical were his fluties performed, so accurate 
were his accounts kept and so noticeable his 
[iiiwer of organization that he was soon pro- 
moted to tile bre\-et rank (if lieutenant ci.il- 
onel. In this connection the writer quotes 
from a recenth' published biographical 
sketch of Mr. Mitchell relative to his reci>r(l 
while serving as paymaster: "During the 
remaiufler of the Civil war he had entire 
charge of the pay department at Little Rock, 
Arkansas, and a part of the time also at 
Memphis, Tennessee, with additional duties 
at Vicksburg. Frequently he had charge of 
from fi\e to twenty subordinate paymasters, 
and millions ot dollars were entrusted to him 
for disbursement. His accounts were 
promptly and accurately rendered to the 
government and settled satisfactorily. After 
the close of the war his connection with the 
army continued until June, 1867, when he 
was mustered out." 

Retm-ning to civil life, Mr. Mitchell was 
identified for some time with railroad con- 
struction, having assisted to build the Grand 



Rapids & Jjidiana line, now one of the lead- 
ing roads of the northwest. In 1871 he pur- 
chased the present site of Cadillac in Wex- 
ford county, Michigan, and the same year 
laid out the town of Clam Lake. With great 
faith in the future growth of the place, he 
at once threw his energies into its develop- 
ment and later, 1876, moved his family here 
with the intention of making the town his . 
permanent home. After locating here he en- 
gaged cpiite extensixely in lumbering, erect- 
ing and o])erating on a large scale three saw- 
mills, and in due time he became one of the 
most successful lumbermen in the state. In 
addition to his private enterprises Mr. Mitch- 
ell, as already stated, became the leading 
factor in the material growth of Clam Lake, 
and did more towards its improvement and 
to insure its future prosperity than any other 
man of his time. "So commendable was his 
public spirit that he was justly entitled to a 
permanent place in the regard of the people 
and in the annals of the town." luther di- 
rectlv or indirectly, he was connected with 
every enterprise conducive to the growth of 
Cadillac, among his contributions in a mater- 
ial wav being a number of private and pub- 
lic buildings, the former including the splen- 
did modern dwelling now owned by W. W. 
Cummer, which is one of the finest specimens 
of architecture in the northern part of the 
state 

In early life Mr. Mitchell was a member 
of the Dutch Reformed church, but after 
coming to Michigan he united with the Pres- 
bvterian congregation at Cadillac and be- 
came one of its most zealous workers and lib- 
eral supporters. His mind was so broad and 
catholic that he recognized good in all 
churches and religious organizations and his 
generous contributions were by no means 



320 



WEXFORD COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



confined to tlie society with which he wor- 
shipped. Among his Ijenefactions were the 
sites for three church edifices of as many 
different denominations and the ground upon 
whicli the pubHc school was erected, also 
some thirty acres donated tor cemetery i)ur- 
pose.s. Politically Mr. Mitchell was an ard- 
ent Republican and he zealously upheld the 
princi])les of his party and contributed great- 
ly to its success both in local and state af- 
fairs and upon national issues. He was the 
first mayor of Cadillac and made a splendid 
record as an executive, and he also served 
for a number of terms on the board of edu- 
cation, in which capacity he was untiring in 
his efforts to make the school system of the 
town among the best in the state. He studied 
deeply the leading questions of the day, was 
profoundly versed in politics and statecraft 
and always kept in touch with current events 
and with the trend of modern thought. By 
reason of valuable services rendered his 
party, he was given a place on the Repub- 
lican state committee and was serving in that 
cai)acity at the time of his death. 

In 1847 Mr. Mitchell married Miss Ma- 
rietta L. Wilkins, who was born in Greene 
county. New York, in the year 1827. She 
was five years old when his parents removed 
to Schoharie county. New York, and later 
she changed her abode to the town of Sprak- 
ers. where her marriage was solemnized. 
Mr. and Mrs. Mitchell became the parents 
of four children, namely: Sijphie, wife of 
D. E. Mclntyre: .\lvin \V.. of Cadillac; An- 
ilrew I.ee. wIkj resitlcs in W'ausau. Wiscon- 
sin, and Will C. whose home is in Cadillac. 

Personallv ^Ir. Mitchell was a gentle- 
man of ])leasing presence, modest and un- 
assuming in manner, affectionate in disposi- 
tion, cntcr])rising in his business affairs. 



energetic and progressive in all of his under- 
takings and public spirited in all the term im- 
plies. He was a noted example of the suc- 
cessful self-made man and almost an ideal 
type of in.telligent American citizenship. He 
departed this life at his home in Cadillac on 
the 8th day of August. 1878. and his deatli 
was not only a serious lilow to the enterprises 
he had supported, but was also deeply felt 
by every citizen of the community which he 
founded and for the advancement and pros- 
perity of which he did so much. Referring 
again to the authority from which liberal 
quotations have already been made, we read 
the following : "At the time of his demise 
the press of Cadillac as well as the news- 
papers of other cities paid to the memory of 
Mr. Mitchell many deserved tributes. On 
the day of his funeral the business houses 
were closed and his remains were borne to 
their last resting place followed by a large 
concoiu'se of sorrowing people. Resolutions 
of respect were ailoptcd by the business men 
of the town, wh.o alluded to him fittingly, as 
not only the founder of the city but the one 
who gave life to its enterprises and industries 
and assisted in its rapid growth and develop- 
ment : whose labors had ever been unselfish- 
ly directed to the ])ul)lic gnod. the ad\ance- 
ment of material prosperity and the moral 
and social elevation of the people, whose 
kind heart has invariably responded to the 
appeals of the needy and afificted and whose 
generous hand was ever open to aid every 
charitable mission and every movement for 
the welfare nf the city which stands today 
a monument to his zeal ami vigilant pro- 
tection." 

One of the local ]iapers in reviewing his 
life and summiniL; up liis character, did so in 
the following appropriate sentences: "As a 



WEXFORD COUNTY. MICHIGAN. 



321 



business man Mr. Mitchell was cautious, yet 
enterprising; forming his plans with great 
wisdom and carrying them out with energy 
and persistence. The prosperity of our town 
and our remarkable exemption from business 
failure are doubtless due largely to his pru- 
d.ent management of his own affairs and to 
his strong influence over other business men. 
He was a good judg'e of human nature, not 
easih' imposed upon, yet so generous was he 
that he would often employ and help those 
whom he could not always entirely trust." 

In closing this brief review suffice it to 
say that Mr. Mitchell was one of the notable 
men of his day and generation. In every 
walk of life he was easily the peer of any of 
his fellows in all that constituted true, noble 
manhood, and during his residence in Cadil- 
lac his name was synonymous with all that 
was moral, upright and inspiring. Kc 
adorned every station he tilled and for years 
to come his name and fame will be cherished 
by a grateful people, whose hearts and affec- 
tions constitute his most enduring monu- 
ment. 

♦■•-♦ 

FRANK J. C013BS. 

The subject of this review is one of the 
able and representative young business men 
of the city of Cadillac, where he has passed 
the greater portion of his life, and here he 
has to do with affairs of broad scope and im- 
portance, being the representative of his fa- 
ther's estate in the well known lumbering 
concern of Cobljs & Mitchell ( incorporated), 
one of the most imixjrtant in this section of 
the state, while he is also president of the 
Cadillac State Rank', a pupular and substan- 
tial financial institution (.)f the countw On 



other pagTS of this publication appears a 
memoir of his father, the late Jonathan W. 
Cobbs, who was one of the pioneers of Cadil- 
lac, where he took up his residence at a time 
when the town still bore the name of Clam 
Lake, and as ready index reference can be 
made to said sketch it is not necessary to re- 
peat the family history at this point. 

h'rank J. Cobbs was born in Jackson 
county, Indiana, on the 5th of November, 
1872, and came as a child to Cadillac, where 
he secured his preliminary educational dis- 
cipline in the pul>lic schools, later entering 
the preparatory department of Notre Dame 
University, at South Bend, Indiana, where 
lie continuetl his studies for a time and then 
became a cadet in the Orchard Lake Military 
Academ}', near Pontiac, Michigan, and still 
later attended Olivet College, graduating 
there with the class of 1894. Lie then re- 
turned to the paternal home and for the en- 
suing year was employed as bookkeeper in 
the office of the firm of Cobbs & Mitchell, of 
which his father was the senior member. In 
November, 1895, he undertook to eft'ect the 
organization of the Catlillac State Bank, and 
through his well-directed eft'orts this object 
was successfully accomplished, and upon the 
final organization and election of the execu- 
tive corps he was made president of the in- 
stitution, an incuml)ency which he has e\er 
since retained, while under his management 
the bank has gained high prestige and popu- 
larity in the community and retains a repre- 
sentative support, transacting a general bank- 
ing business and affording the best of facil- 
ities, while the policy brought to bear is pro- 
gressive and yet duly conservative. 

Shortly after assuming his executive du- 
ties as the head nf this l)auk Mr. Cobbs found 
that there was placed upon his shoulders a 



322 



WEXFORD COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



still further burden of responsibility, which 
he assumed with characteristic determina- 
tion and self-reliance. His father's health 
became quite seriously impaired at this time 
and it became necessary for the subject to 
represent his interests in the firm of Cobbs 
& Mitchell. His father died in September, 
1898. and a short time afterward a reorgani- 
zation of the firm of Cobbs & Mitchell was 
effected and the same was incorporated un- 
der the original title as a stock company, 
and the subject has since been actively iden- 
tified with the management of its affairs, 
holding the office of vice-jiresident and 
secretary. He is a young man of broad 
views and marked public spirit and is ever 
ready to do all in his power to further the 
pro.sperity and progress of his home city and 
county, while his personality is such that he 
has esteem and respect of all who know him. 
In ])olitics he gives his allegiance t(j the Re- 
publican party. 

In the city of Charlotte. Eaton county, 
Michigan, on the 14th of April. 1898. was 
solemnized the marriage of Mr. Cobbs to 
Miss Maude Louise Belcher, a daughter of 
the late Frank S. Belcher, who was president 
of the First National Bank, of that citv. 



WILLIAM W. MITCHELL. 

To the development of the great lumber- 
ing industry made ])ossible by the mag- 
nificent timber ])reserves, the entire northern 
section of the lower ])eninsula of IMichigan 
owes its original ])restige and its consecu- 
tive advancement, and in the carrying for- 
ward of this industry has been enlisted the 
co-operation of many able and progressive 



business men, while a large percentage of 
the number owe their pronounced success 
t(j the adxantages thus afforded. Mr. 
^Mitchell came into the pineries of Wexford 
county when a j'oung man, and here he has 
been actively identified with the lumber- 
ing industry for a ])eriod of thirty years, 
within which he has had the enterprise and 
prescience to so utilize opportunity as ti:) 
gain a place among the prominent lumber- 
men of the state, while he has contributed 
his quota to the substantial ui)building and 
material prosperity of the attractive ci'ty of 
Cadillac, to whose interests he has ever 
been signally loyal, l^eing one of the repre- 
sentative citizens and Imsiness men of the 
county. 

William \\ . Miichell is a scion of one 
of the old .'Hid honored families of the 
Wolverine state. ha\ing been born in the 
city of Hillsdale. Michigan, on the 3d of 
June, 1851, and being the third in order of 
birth of si.\ children of Charles T. and Har- 
riet (Wing~i Mitchell, the former of whom 
was born in Xcw York, and the latter in 
Wayne county, Michigan. The paternal 
grandfather of the subject likewise bore the 
name of Charles T. Mitchell, and he passed 
his entire life in the old Empire state, where 
he died at an advancetl age. Charles T.. 
Jr.. was reared and educated in Xew York 
state, whence as a young man he came to 
Michigan and became identified, as a con- 
tractor, v.ith the construction of the Michi- 
gan Southern Railroad, one of the first 
built in the west. Later he became a buyer 
and shi))per of wheat and also established 
himself in the hardware business in Hills- 
dale, where for a (piarter of a century he 
was president of the Second National Bank, 
being one of the honored and influential 




<^^<-^^-l.y.L,u^ ^^<y^^li:jt^^.6.j,jlj^ 



WEXFORD COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



323 



citizens of tlillsdale county and city, where 
he died; his widow is still living at an ad- 
vanced age. Mr. Mitchell was f(.>r a nuniher 
of years an active factor in the I-tepulilican 
part^'. and his was the distinction of having 
hccn a niemher of tlie electoral college which 
g.-ive Ahraham Lincoln the presidency for 
a second term. 

William W. Mitchell received his pre- 
liminary educational chscipline ui the public 
scliools of his native town, and tliis was sup- 
plemented by two years of study in Hills- 
dale College. Tn 1873 he came to the primi- 
tive village of Clam Lake, the predecessor 
of the present city of Cadillac, the village 
being at the time a mere hamlet in the midst 
of the pine forest, while his uncle, George 
A. :\Iitchell, was at the time 'die principal 
luml)er manufacturer in this locahty. Will- 
iam W. forthwith identilied himself in a 
practical way with the industry through 
which he was eventually to attain so dis- 
linctive success. His first employment here 
was as talleyman for his uncle, and during 
the summer of 1K74 he held the jiosition 
of foreman in a small lumber yard in Clam 
Lake, while in the autumn of that year he 
initiated his independent operations by 
associating himself with others in a contract 
to supply logs for a mill on Clam Lake, thus 
implying the work of getting out the timber 
and attending to the various details of 
bringing it to the mill. He was thus en- 
gaged for two vears. after which he became 
foreman for his uncle, ha\ing charge of both 
the logs and the finished products of the 
mill. Tn 1877 he entered into partnership 
with the late Jonathan W. Cobbs. under the 
firm name of Cobbs cS: Mitchell, and they 
effected the purchase of two hundred and 
seventy-si.x acres of pine land, while m 



October of the following year he also bought 
a half interest in a saw-mill owned by 
his partner. Afterward they purchased a 
mill at Round Lake and had sufficient ma- 
terial to operate it fin" a period of seven 
years. In 1892 they built and e(|uippcd a 
fine modern mill at Cadillac, the same hav- 
ing a capacity of eighty thousand feet daily. 
This mill is still in active o])eration. In 
these intervening years the well-directed 
efi".M-ts of the firm brought it into promi- 
nence as one of the leading concerns of the 
sort in this section of the state, and through 
his connection with the same xMr. Mitchell 
laid the foundation f.ir his present pros- 
perity and independence. Mr. Cuhhs death 
occurred in the autumn of 1898, and shortly 
afterward Mr. Mitchell bn:)Ught about a 
reorganization of the business under the 
same title, the enterprise being simultane- 
' ,,usly incorporated under the laws of the 
state. He was made president of the com- 
pany and has ever since continued in this 
oft^xe, while the business is still carried 
activelv forward in the manufacturing of 
lumber, the plant of the company being of 
the highest standard. I\Ir. Mitchell was 
also associated with his Ixother, the late 
Austin W., under the firm name of IMitchell 
Brothers, and they conducted extensive 
operations ii-#he manufacturing of lumber, 
having owned large tracts of pine land in 
various sections of northern Michigan. Mr. 
Mitchell is a careful and discriminating Inisi- 
ness man. having a capacity for affairs of 
wide scope and im])ortance, while his suc- 
cess stands in evidence of consecutive ap- 
plication and properly directed energy. 
He has ever remained loyal to Cadillac, of 
whose development he has been a witness, 
while his influence has ever been lent in sup- 



324 



ir EX FORD COUXTY, MICIIIGAX. 



port of all worthy projects and undertak- 
ing's for the general good, and he is kno\ni 
as a thoroughly puhlic-spirited citizen. He 
was one of those prominently concerned in 
the huilding of the beautiful seven-mile 
drive around Clam lake, the same having 
heen constructed through the enterprise of 
the citizens of Cadillac, and adding materi- 
ally to the attractiveness of the city. In 
politics Mr. Mitchell exercises his franchise 
in support of the jjrinciples and policies of 
the Re])ul)lican party. His residence is one 
cif the many beautiful homes of Cadillac, 
being of modern architectural design and 
cijuipment and standing in evidence of his 
appreciation of the attractions of the city in 
which he has so long resided. 

On the /th of October, 1876, Mr. Mitch- 
ell was united in marriage to Miss Ella Yost, 
who was born in Waterloo, New York, be- 
ing a daughter of George Yost, who re- 
moved to Hillsdale. Michigan, when ^Irs. 
Mitchell was a child, and in the latter place 
she was reared and educated. Mr. and Mrs. 
Mitchell ha\e two children. Charles T. and 
Marie Elizabeth. 



ERED A. DIGGLXS. 

b'red .\. Diggins was bor^n July. 1862, 
near Harvard. McHenry county. Illinois, 
and there spent the years of his childhood 
and early life, the meanwhile receiving his 
educational training in the public schools and 
becoming acquainted with the more practical 
phases of life under the wholesome disci- 
pline of the farm. Mr. Diggins remained in 
his native state until 1879. at which time he 
se\ered. home ties and started out to make 
his own way in the world, going first to 



Osceola county, Michigan, and locating for 
3 limited time at the town of Hersey. Leav- 
ing that place he entered, in 1880, the Grand 
Rapids Business College, where he pursued 
his studies two years, after which he accept- 
ed the position of bookkeeper with his 
brother, Delos F. Diggins, with whom he re- 
mained until the latter part of 1886. In the 
fall of that year he came to Cadillac and en- 
tered the employ of the private banking firm 
of Delos .\. Blodgett & Company, continu- 
ing with the said firm during the ensuing 
two years, at the expiration of which time he 
resigned his position for the purpose of en- 
gaging in the lumber business, becoming a 
member of the firm of F. A. Diggins & Com- 
pany, which was organized at Sunny Side 
in 1888. The company did a thriving busi- 
ness for several years, but wound up its af- 
fairs in 1897. at which time the subject be- 
came associated with Joseph Murphy, under 
the style of Murphy & Diggins. 

.As joint manager of the large and far- 
reaching enterprise witli which he is identi- 
fied. Mr. Diggins displays fine executive abil- 
itv and. being familiar with every detail of 
the great lumber industry, he prosecutes his 
business with the most encouraging finan- 
cial results. For a number of years Mr. 
Diggins has been an ardent Republican, hav- 
ing long been interested in district, state and 
national issues, and he has represented the 
people of Cadillac as a delegate to many dif- 
ferent nominating conventions. In 1892 he 
was chosen a delegate to the national Repub- 
lican convention at Minneapolis, which nom- 
inated Benjamin Harrison for the presiden- 
cy and in the spring of the same year was 
honored by being elected mayor of Cadillac, 
entering the office liefore attaining the age 
of thirtv. .\s the city's chief executive Mr. 



IVEXFORD COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



325 



Diggins proxed satisfactory to the people ir- 
respectixe of iiarty ami so ably and iiiiparti- 
allv did he discharge his official duties that 
lie was re-elected his own successor the fol- 
lowing year. At the expiration of his sec- 
ond term he retired from the office with 
the good will of the people, but after the 
lapse of two years he was again put for- 
ward, defeating- his opponent and entering 
the office with a greatly increased majority. 
By successive re-elections he was retained as 
mayor during the ensuing four years, filling 
the position six years in all, his record dur- 
ing that time fully justifying the people in 
the wisdom of their choice. He retired 
from the mayoralty in 1900, since which 
date he has devoted his attention exclusive- 
ly to his large and growing business. Mr. 
Diggins is one of the most pleasant and con- 
genial of men, the very embodiment of good 
fellowship, and is in every respect a repre- 
sentative business man an<l reputable citizen. 
Mr. Diggins' dimiestic life dates from 
1890, in which year he was united in mar- 
riage with Miss Carrie E. Cummer, whose 
father, Jacob Cummer, is one of the leading 
citizens of Cadillac. Mr. and Mrs. Digg-ins 
ha\e a pleasant home, anil are \ery fortu- 
nate in their social relations, moving in the 
best society circles of the city. They have 
been influential in promoting charitable en- 
terprises and being active in good works for 
the benefit of their kind, their lives ha\e in- 
deed been a blessintj to the countrv. 



HON. CLYDE C. CHITTENDEN. 

Occupying a prominent position among 
the leading members of the Cadillac bar, with 
an lionorable reconl as a jurist, a creditable 
career as a politician and much more than 



local repute as an official antl business man, 
the subject of this sketch is entitled to specific 
mention as (ine of the notable men of the 
city and county. Judge Chittenden has 
long been an infiuential factor in the bistorv 
of Cadillac and his activitv in behalf of 
every enterprise making for the public good, 
his distinguished services in high official sta- 
tion, as \\ell as his continued success, have 
won him a name which the people in this part 
of the state have not been slow to honor. 

The history of the Chittenden family, 
of which the Judge is a worthy representa- 
tive, is traceble to bis grandparents, Hiram 
and Emaline ( Payne) Chittenden, who were 
born in New Vork, settling in the county of 
Cattaraugus. Of their family of se\en chil- 
dren, three sons and four daughters, W'ill- 
iam, the subject's father, was the oldest. He 
was l)orn September 5, 1835, in Cattaraugus 
county. New York, grew to maturity on a 
farm and when a }'oung man decided to de- 
\'ote his life to agriculture, which pursuit 
be followed in his native state until the year 
1888. Meantime, on the iSth of Novem- 
ber, 1857, ^"^ married Miss Mary J. Wheeler, 
of Yorkshire, New York, who bore him two 
sons and one daughter, namely: Hiram M., 
formerly a lieutenant in the United States 
army: Clyde C, of this review, and Ida L., 
all living. In the month of Jtme, 1862, Mr. 
Chittenden enli.sted in Company D, One 
Hundred and b'ifty-fourth New York Infan- 
try, with which he served until discharged 
on account of physical ilisability. ha\-ing 
earned an honorable record as a soldier. 
Disposing of his interests in New ^'ork in 
t888. he moved his family to Michigan, set- 
tling in Wexford county, where he has since 
resided, being now practically retired from 
active life. 



326 



I WEXFORD COUNTY. MICHIGAN. 



Clyde C. Cliittenden was bom in York- 
sliire. Cattaraugus county. New York, on 
the icjtli (lay of August, i860, and spent 
his early life under the acti\'e and wholesome 
discipline of the farm. After attending for 
some years the public schools, he entered an 
academy not far from his home, where he 
pursued the higher branches of learning 
until completing the jjrescribed course in 
i88j . when he became a student of Hamilton 
College, near the city of L'tica. Eight 
months of diligent ap])lication in that in- 
stitution terminated his scholastic training, 
after which he began the study of law at 
I.ittle Valley, in the office of Nash & Lin- 
coln, well-known attorneys of that place, con- 
tinuing under their direction until his remo- 
val to Michigan in the fall of 1883. 

On coming to this state Mr. Chittenden 
<lecided u> locate at Cadillac and here he ap- 
])lie(l liimseif closely to his legal studies until 
-Marcii of the following year, when he was 
admitted to the bar. Oi)ening an office and 
announcing himself a candidate for a share 
of public patronage, he .soon succeeded in 
building up a lucrative business and it was 
not long until he forged to the front as one 
of the rising members of the \\'exford coun- 
ty bar. During the spring and summer of 
i88.|. h.e applied himself closely to the gener- 
al practice, with encouraging success, but the 
the following fall, at the earnest solicitation 
of his friends, he ent.eretl the race for circuit 
court commissioner, to which office he was 
elected by a very decided majoritv. 

This may be termed the beginning of 
Mr. Chittenden's public career, as he has been 
prominently liefore the people from that year 
ti) the present time, fully justifying their con- 
fidence in his ability and integrity and prov- 
nig true to every trust reposed in him. 



After serving one term as court commission- 
er, he was elected, in 1886. prosecuting at- 
torney and so able and faithfully did he dis- 
charge the duties of this exacting office that 
he was twice re-elected, serving six years in 
all. during which period he continuallv add- 
ed to bis re])utation as a sound lawyer and 
shrewd, resourceful practitioner. 

Mr. Chittenden is an influential iJolitician 
I and ever since locating at Cadillac has been 
a wise counsellor and judicious leader of the 
I Republican party. He has served as dele- 
j gate to local and state conventions and as 
member of the county central committee, a 
I position he has held ever since coming to the 
j slate, his eft'orts contrilnuing greatly to 
I the success of the ticket in a number of elec- 
j tions. In the fall of 1894 he was elected .sen- 
I ator from the twenty-seventh district and as 
[ a legislator in the state councils proved ecpial 
to the responsibilities intrusted to him. Dur- 
ing his incumbency he was active and effi- 
cient in the discharge of his everv duty, 
served on a number of important committees, 
took a leading part in the general delil^era- 
tions and earned the reputation of a wise and 
judicious law-maker, meeting the liio-h ex- 
pectations of bis friends throughout the dis- 
trict by the interest he manifested in Ix-half 
lit his constituents and the state. 

Mr. Chittenden, in the year 1900. was 
elected judge of the twenty-eighth judicial 
circuit, in which honorable position he has 
already ac<|uired a high reputation for 
soundness in the knowledge of the law and 
for careful application of its principles in the 
investigation and determination of cases sub- 
mitted for his consideration and disposal. 
Fortified by his convictions of right, his 
rulings arc fair and impartial, his decisions 
clear, terse, and embodying a careful review 



•^ 

% 




~-^-<^555^sJ:---'^-- --^ 



\_Axr»-w"ir>" 



.-ola) 



328 



WEXFORD COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



printed on tlie pages of liistory presents to 
tlie yontli of tlie rising generation an exam- 
ple worthy of study antl emulation. Such 
a life has been that of the eminent Ijusiness 
man and distinguished citizen to a brief re- 
\ie\v of whose long and \aried career this 
;u'ticlc is devoted. 

Jacob Cummer, for man_\' years one of 
the leading business men of Micliigan, is 
known from nne extremity of the state to tlie 
otlicr, and liis name is also familiar in busi- 
ness circles throughout the entire country, as 
his operations have by no means been circum- 
scribed by the bounds of the commonwealth 
in. which he has conducted his extensive inter- 
ests and in which his signal financial success- 
es have been achieved. Mr. Cummer is a 
nati\e of Canada, in which country his fam- 
ily settled in an early day and with the local 
history of certain parts of which the name 
has long been identified. His father, John 
Henry Cummer, was a farmer and lumber- 
man, who at one time oi)erated several saw- 
mills, in addition to which he also did a 
tlourishing business in the manufacture of 
dour. He spent all his life in Canada and 
died in the city of Toronto in the seventy- 
fifth year of his age. The maiden name of 
Mrs. John II. Cummer was Sarah I.ock- 
man Smith ; she bore her husband ten chil- 
dren and departed this life shortly after his 
death at W'aterdown, being between sixty 
and sexent}' years of age at the time of her 
demise. 

Of the large fruuily of children that once 
gathered around the hearthstone of John H. 
and Sarah (Smith) Cummer, Jacob, the 
subject of this re\ icw, is the oldest. He was 
born November i, iSj^, in the city of Toron- 
to, but spent his youthful years on his fath- 
er's farm where he early le M'ned those lessons 



of industry antl thrift which had such a de- 
cided influence in forming his character and 
shaping his future course of action. At the 
age of eighteen he entered his father's busi- 
ness and after two years of hard work and 
steady application there, went to Lock])ort, 
New York, where he received atlditional in- 
struction in ilour making, in due time be- 
coming a very cflicient miller. After re- 
maining one year in that city he returned to 
Canada and took charge of the home mill, 
which he operated for his father one year, 
and at the expiration of that time entered 
into an agreement to run the business for a 
share of the proceeds. Leasing the mill, he 
continued its operation about two \'ears, 
whai he )nirchased the .structure and as sole 
proprietor did a reasonably successful busi- 
ness until selling out at a fair profit several 
years later. 

.\ftcr disposing of the mill, the subject, 
in pavtnershii) with his brother, Lockman 
Cummer, engaged in the manufacture of 
flour at W'aterdown, where they took charge 
of two grist-mills, in connection with which 
they also operated the same number of saw- 
mills and a foundry and a machine shop. 
When Mr. Cummer went to W'aterdown he 
invested all of his earnings, amounting to 
twenty-seven thousand dollars, in the above 
enterprises and for a time things went favor- 
ably: the busiiness continual to grow in 
\olunie and importance until fortune 
seemed assiu'ed, but the great financial ])anic 
of 1857 coming on, during which time it 
was impossible to make collections, the busi- 
ness was .so seriously crippled that at the ex- 
piration of about seventeen months pay- 
ments were suspended and the doors clo.sed. 
This failure sw.dlowed up the entire capital 
of the firm and entailed a 1i>ss from which 



WEXFORD COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



329 



the l)r()thcrs were a long time recovering. 
Sliortly after suspending business Mr. Cum- 
mer engaged to conduct a mill for another 
party at Delaware, Ontario, liaving been 
reccomended for the position l)y certain par- 
ties who were cognizant of his superior 
abilities as a miller, .\fter operating the 
mill aliout a }-ear for a share of the earnings 
he gave up the place and came to Michigan, 
locating in i860 in Newaygo county, where 
he purchased what was known as tlie Brooks 
property, consisting of a lumber and flour- 
ing-mill, to which he subsequently added a 
plant for the manufacture of staves. Mr. 
Cummer embarked in tiie three-fold enter- 
prise with every prospect of success, but the 
Civil war breaking out soon afterwards and 
the consequent flooding of the countrv- with 
a depreciated and largely irredeemable, or 
"wild cat," currency, brought on a season of 
depression which continued with little or no 
abatement for three and a half years, to the 
great detriment of all business enterprises, 
many of which suftered severe losses, while 
others failed, never again to resume opera- 
tions. During this period Mr. Cumimer 
tried hard to keep his business on a paying 
basis, but owing to stringency of money 
matters he finally succumbed to the inevita- 
ble and was obliged to suspend and relin- 
quish the property on which he had already 
made several large payments. With noth- 
ing better in view, he soon afterwards rented 
one of the mills and for a period of two 
years operated it with fair success, giving it 
up at the end of that time and then rented 
fur a term of vears Rice Bros." mill in the 
town of Crotdu, Michigan. During the 
three years in which he operated the latter 
Mr. Cummer met with enc(iuraging success, 
and it was while at Crntnn that he began in- 



vesting his surplus capital in pine lands, a 
\enture which ultimately proved the making 
of his fortune. In company with the late 
Nelson Higbee and Robert J. Mitchell, both 
shrewd, far-seeing business mien, he purchas- 
ed large tracts in various parts of the coun- 
try, all of which afterward proved very prof- 
itable, and in due time he retired frimi mill- 
ing to devote his entire attention to the lum- 
ber industry. With an eye to the future, he 
bought, shortly after leaving Croton, a large 
amount of fine timber land, which he subse- 
quently sold at profit of one hundred thous- 
and dollars, the meanwhile continuing his 
investments until, as stated in the preceding 
paragraph, he became widely known as one 
of the leading lumber dealers in the state. 

Removing from Croton, Mr. Cummer 
l(j()k u]) his residence at Cedar Springs, 
Kent county, Michigan, where he remained 
between one and two years, devoting his 
attention to buying and selling liuiiber and 
assisting his brother, Franklin D. Cumjner, 
who some time before had become involved 
in various business difficulties. From Cedar 
Springs he removed to Morley, Michigan, 
where he formed a partnership in the lum- 
ber business with his son, Wellington W., 
erecting a saw-mill which they operated with 
a large financial profit until 1876, when the 
subject changed his abode to Cadillac. Here, 
in partnership with his son, he continued to 
deal extensively in timber lands, purchasing 
large tracts in the counties of Wexford and 
Missaukee, which, like his previous invest- 
ments, returned him liberal profits and added 
greatlv to the alreadv independent fortune at 
that lime in his possession. Becoming 
somewhat advanced in years and not caring 
to assume anv additional rcspnnsibilities, 
Mr. Cummer, as soon as he could reasonably 



330 



H'EXfORD COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



do so, gradually turned his extensive busi- 
ness interests ()\er to other hands and 
sought the cjuiet shades of retirement in Cad- 
illac, where he has since li\eil in the enjoy- 
ment of the fruits of his many years of 
strenuous toil. He still retains, however, 
an interest in the business which he formerly 
conducted with such marked success and in 
addition thereto keeps in tnuch with the 
trend of affairs in the city, manifesting a 
li\-ely regard for e\erything pertaining to 
the guild of the community and contributing 
to the promntion of the welfare nf his fellow 
men. 

Mr. Cummer"s ability to rise superior 
to obstacles that would have discouraged the 
majority of nien and to win success from 
conditions which would have meant defeat 
to many, shows him the possessor of a re- 
.sourceful mind, ;i soundness of judgment, a 
clearness of perception antl rare forethought 
such as few men are endowed with. His 
career presents much that is commendable, 
nut the least being his ability to rally from 
severe financial reverses, to perceive in the 
midst of discouraging circumstances a way 
1o take advantage of them, and to create op- 
])ortunities where they did not hitherto exist, 
'n the midst of the thronging cares and de- 
mands of a busy life he has never been im- 
mindful of his obligations to the comnnmit}- 
as a citizen, being always gracious in his as- 
.sociati(ms with his fellow men and enjoving 
a jiojnilarity which is the natural result of 
bis characteristics. He is a man of strong 
intellectuality and keen discernment, and, 
calculating well the futm"e outcome of busi- 
ness transactions, is seldom mistaken in the 
ultimate results of an_\- of bis undertakings. 
As already stated, he has de\-oted consider- 
able of his time and talent to the improve- 



ment of his town and county and his gen- 
erosity, unswer\ing integritw ])ublic spirit 
and pronounced ability have gained him a 
distinctive position as one of the truest and 
best citizens of Cadillac. 

The married life of Air. Cummer dates 
from 1845, on Xo\ember 6 of which year 
he was united in the bonds of wedlock with 
Miss Mary A. Snider, who was burn .\])ril 
7, 1S25, in the dominion of Canada. Her 
parents, Jacob and Rachel ( McCready ) Sni- 
der, were natives of Xew Brunswick, but 
si)ent much of their lives in Canada, and died 
near the city of Toronto. Their family con- 
sisted of nine children, Mrs. Cummer being 
the fifth in order of birth. To Air. and Mrs. 
Cummer have been born six children, whose 
names arc as follows: Wellington W.. a 
sketch of whom will be found elsewhere in 
this \olume; Emily ]£liza died in infancy; 
Jimma Bell also died young: Harvey F. de- 
parted this life in his sixth year; Elmer C. 
died when t\venty-se\en years old. and Car- 
rie E., who married Fred .\. Diggins, a 
prominent business nxan of Cadillac. Mr. 
Cummer and wife have been zealous mem- 
bers of the Congregational church for m;ui\- 
years and since coming to Cadillac have 
been acti\e in all lines of religious and benex- 
olent work and to their efforts and liberal 
hn.'uicial su])port the cluu'cb in ibis citv is 
largelv indebted for its material pros])critv 
atid s])iritual growth. Since becoming a 
naturalized citizen of the L'nited States Mr. 
Cummer has acted with the Repul)lican party 
and while not a partisan, much less an as- 
l)irant for official honors, he has been acti\c 
in party councils and an influential worker 
for the cause he esi)ouses. In ])olitical mat- 
ters as well as in business affairs and in his 
relations with the world generally he is a 



WEXFORD COUNTY, MICHIQAN. 



331 



vigorous as well as an independent thinker 
and has the courage of his convictions upon 
all suhjects he investigates. He is also cos- 
mopolitan in his ideas, a man of the peo- 
ple, and cares little for conventionalism or 
for the sanctity attaching to person or place 
hy reason of artificial distinction, accident 
of hirth or time-honored tradition. In hrief, 
he is a representative type of the strong, 
\irile American manhood, that hy reason of 
inherent merit, sound sense and correct con- 
duct commands and retains the respect of 
the ])eople, and he stands today, as he has 
stood in the past, a forceful and influential 
factor in business afifairs and an honored 
citizen in the walk of life. 



WILLTAM L. SAUNDERS. 

In a history of the prominent and influ- 
ential citizens of Wexford county, William 
L. Saunders, of Cadillac, is deserving of spe- 
cific notice as his weli-spent life, his fine busi- 
ness ac([uirements, his loyalty to every trust 
re])osed in him and liis ability to manage 
large and inipurtant imhistrird enterprises, 
as well as the honorable and straightforward 
course he has ever pursued, have gained him 
a high place in the confidence and esteem 
of his fellow men. Mr. Saunders is a native 
of Cumberland county, Pennsylvania, aiid 
the second in a family of six children, who.se 
l)arents were WilliauT and Mary ( .\shton) 
Saunders. He was born in the city of Car- 
lisle on the 5th day of September. 1858, and 
when quite young was taken to Ulonniburg, 
where he spent his early years, as soon ;is 
old enough assisting his father in a planing- 
mill and at intervals attending the public 



schools of the town. By reason of circum- 
stances o\er which he had no control his ed- 
ucation was somewhat limited, but he made 
the most of his opportunities and in time 
became well informed in the common 
branches of learning. Like the majority of 
successful men, however, bis training was 
mo.stly of a practical nature, obtained in the 
rugged school of experience, such discipline 
being of far greater value than much of the 
knowledge imparted by colleges and univer- 
sities. Mr. Saunders" father was a lumber 
dealer, and he was careful to instruct his 
sons in the fundamental principles of busi- 
ness, the suliject coiuing in for his full share 
of this severe practical training. In x^JJ 
the fanuly moved to Cadillac, Alichigan, 
where the elder Saunders established a plan- 
ing-mill. WiHiam L. afterwards becoming 
a partner in the enterprise, which for two 
years went by the firm name of Saunders & 
Son. At the expiration of that time the sub- 
ject withdrew and entered the anploy of 
C'ummer & Cummer, as foreman of that 
firm's large business, subsequently being ])ro- 
motetl to the supcrinten.dency. in which capa- 
city he served about ten _\ears, bec(jming dur- 
ing that time familiar with every detail of the 
lumber industrv besides developing great 
skill and elliciency as a sound, practical busi- 
ness man. The lirm was originally knuwn 
as (ummer & l)ig,i;ins, and il was with the 
latter partnership thai Mr. Saunders became 
identified in the year njoo by purchasing an 
interest in the business. .\s at present con- 
stituted the firm is known as CumUier, Dig- 
gins & Com])any. .Mr. Saunders being the 
practical superintendent of the enterprise, a 
])osition which his natural .abilities and pre- 
vious training peculiarly fit him to till. 

Whatever success Mr. Saunders has 



332 



WEXFORD COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



achieved, and il is l)y no means inconsider- 
al)le. is due entirely to liis own industry, in- 
telligence antl well-directed etYorts. In his 
young manhood he started out to make his 
own way in the world, with little aid from 
outside sources, and lie has steadily worked 
onward and upward to the responsible posi- 
tion he now holds with one of the largest 
business firms in northern Michigan. Pos- 
sessing untiring energy, quick perception 
and sound judgment, he is well qualified for 
leadership in important undertakings. Pie 
forms Ills plans readil}-, is determined in 
their execution, and his close application to 
the interests of his firm and excellent busi- 
ness management have brought him the high 
degree of prosperity which today is his. It 
is tru.e that he became interested in an en- 
terprise already established, but in manag- 
ing, practically controlling and in no small 
measure enlarging the same, he has displayed 
executive abilities of a high order and dem- 
onstrated the fact that success in such an un- 
dertaking is not the result of genius or 
fortuitous circumstances, but the outcome 
of sound sense, mature judgment and the 
right kind of experience. 

The domestic chapter of the life of Mr. 
Saunders bears date of 1879. o" Novemlier 
9th of which year he entered the marriage 
relation with Miss Mary Graham, a native 
of Ontario and a daughter of the late Archi- 
bald (iraham. for many years a prominent 
ruid inlluential business man of Big Rapids, 
this stale. To this union three children have 
been born. Clyde A. and Marion, living, 
Blanche, the second in order of birth, dying 
at the early age of five years. Mr. Saunders 
has served several times in the common 
council of Cadillac and as a member of that 
body labored zealouslv for the citv's ad- 



vancement, standing for all needetl public 
improvements and bringing about much leg- 
islation for tlie good of the municipality. 
He has been closely identified with every 
movement for the general welfare of the 
community since becoming a resident of the 
same and no worthy enterprise for the ad- 
vancement of the city's interests, materially 
or otherwise, has been inaugurated and car- 
ried forward without his hearty co-opera- 
tion and sujiport. Public spirited in all the 
term implies, he devcStes much of his time 
and attention to matters outside the province 
of his business affairs and is ever ready to 
lend a helping hand when projects for the 
con.imon weal are luitler consideration of 
being pushed to practical conclusion. 

Politically Mr. Saunders supports the 
Republican party, but he is not a politician 
nor has he any aspiration in the way of office 
holding, preferring the active life he is now 
leading as a i^rivate citizen to any honors 
or emoluments within the power of his fel- 
low citizens to bestow. Fraternally he is 
a ]\Iason of high degree, belonging to the 
lodge, chai'ter and council at Cadillac, in ail 
of which he is an active memljer and inllu- 
ential factor, ever striving to exemplify in 
his daily life the beautiful teachings and 
?ul)lime precepts of this ancient and honor- 
able order. Mr. Saunders is a well-rounded, 
symmetrically developed man of recognized 
ability ;md unimpeachable integrity, and he 
may be taken as a splendid example of bro:id- 
minded, progressive American citizenship. 
Plis influence has always been on the right 
side of every moral question, and under all 
circumstances he has lieen true to his con- 
victions of right, both theoretically and prac- 
ticallv. Genial in manner, kindly in disposi- 
tion and cheerful in temperament, he has the 



ir EX FORD COUNTY. MICHIGAN. 



333 



warm regard of all with whom he mingles, 
and his life demonstrates the possibilities 
that are o])en to every young man with en- 
ergy and ambition to rise alxjve mere self 

so as to be of use to society and to the 



JOHN M. TKRW'ILLIGER. 

Newspapers are powerful agents in the 
development of every community, and upon 
their early establishment the rapid growth 
of an incipient municipality to a large ex- 
tent depends, while at all stages of advance- 
ment they figure as the pulse indication of 
local thought and action. The thriving city 
of Cadillac is favored in having so ably edit- 
ed and conducted a newspaper as is the Cad- 
illac Globe, of which Messrs. John M. Ter- 
williger and Ralph W. Crawford are edi- 
tors and publishers. Of this paper, Mr. Ter- 
williger was the founder, and he has been 
continuously identihed with the same to 
ihe present time, being known as one of the 
alert and progressive young business men of 
the city, while he hoUls the uncqui\ocal con- 
fidence and regard of the comnninity. 

John M. Terwilliger is a native of the 
state of Michigan, having been Ix^rn in Clay- 
ton, Lenawee county, on the 21st of Feb- 
ruary, 1870, and being a son of Albert E. 
and Polly (Forbes) Terwilliger, the former 
of whom was born in Rochester county. New 
York, and the latter in Lenawee county, 
Michigan. Albert E. Terwilliger was at- 
tending school at the breaking out of the 
Civil war. and then enlisted in the One Hun- 
dred and Thirty-eighth New ^'ork in- 
tantry, being later transferred to the Ninth 
New York Heavy Artillery. He served val- 



iantly during the conflict and at its close 
went to Clayton, Michigan, where he resided 
until 1875, when he located at Sylvania, Lu- 
cas county, Ohio. In 1880 he returned to 
Michigan and in 1883 he came to Wexford 
county anil located in Antioch township, 
where he tin^ned his attention to agricultural 
pursuits, in which he here continued until 
the death of his loved and devoted wife, on 
the 19th of June, i88g, at which time she 
was tifty-one years of age. In the autumn 
of that year he returned to Lenawee county, 
where he has since resided. Of this union 
were torn two children. John M., the imme- 
diate subject of this review, and Fred E., 
who is a farmer in Lenawee county. When 
the subject was H\-e years of age his par- 
ents removed to Sylvania, Lucas county, 
Ohio, where he prosecuted his studies in the 
public schools until he had attained the age 
of ten years, when the family returned to 
Lenawee county, locating on a farm near 
Clayton, where they resided until their re- 
mo\al to Wexford county, John M. ha\-ing 
in the meanwhile continued his studies in 
the public schools. At the age of sixteen 
years he began teaching in the district schools 
of Wexford county, successfully continuing 
his pedagogic efforts for a period of four 
years, after which he completed a business 
course in the Ferris Institute, at Big Rapids. 
Mr. Terwilliger's identification with the "art 
preserxative of all arts'" dates its inception 
back to the spring of 1892, when he came to 
Cadillac and accqjted the position of solici- 
tor and reporter on the Michigan State Dem- 
ocrat, retaining this incumbency until De- 
cember of the following year, when he pur- 
chased the Fife Lake Monitor, which he 
continued to pul)lish until July, 1898, when 
he ilisposed of the plant and business, having 



334 



WEXFORD COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



m the meanwhile also founded and conducted 
the r.Mardman River Current, which was 
puhlished in connection with his other paper. 
On the 1st of .Septemher. 1898. he founded 
the Cadillac Clnhe. and in July of the follow- 
in;^ )ear Ralph W. Crawford, an able young 
newspaper man. became associated with him 
in the enterprise, purchasing a half interest, 
and since that time the business has been 
conducted under the tirni n.ame <if Terwilli- 
g'er & Crawford. The (ildbe is published on 
Thursday of each week, is a seven-column 
quarto, and is not only a worthy exponent 
of local interests but is a credit to the town 
and also to its publishers; the letter-press 
being excellent and the makeup always taste- 
ful and effectixe. while its character and its 
circulation are such as to secure to it a rep- 
rcseiUati\e a<lvertising su])port. the business 
men of the citv ap])rcciating its \alue in this 
line. The ])lant nf the firm is well equipped. 
and the facilities df the jub department are 
inaintained at the highest standard, so that 
attracti\-e work is issued. ;ind that with ex- 
pedition and proper care to iletails. The 
political ]3olicy of the Globe is independent. 
Mr. Terwilliger is personally a stanch ad- 
vocate of the principles of the Democratic 
party, and takes an active interest in its 
cause. Fraternally he is identified with the 
Knights of Pythias, holding membership in 
Cadillac Lodge No. 46, while in the Inde- 
pendent Order of Odd Fellows he affiliates 
with Arbutus Lodge No. 359, at Fife Lake. 
On the r)th of December, 1895, Mr. Ter 
williger was united in marriage to Miss Dol- 
lie Dutton. of Cadillac, who was Ix)rn in 
the citv of Rochester, New York, being a 
d.iughter ^A Charles W. and Jemiic Dutton, 
concerning whom specific mention is made 
on other ijay-es of this \dluinie. 



In this connection it may Ije consistently 
noted that while residing in Antioch town- 
ship, this county, .\lbert E. Terwilliger, the 
father of the subject, was active and influ- 
ential in local affairs of a public nature, hav- 
ing held various township offices and having 
been ])roniiiieiitly concerned in the organiza- 
tion of se\eral school districts, while he held 
the confidence and good will of ail who knew 
him, his remo\-nl froiu the communit}' being 
much regretted, lie is a Republican in his 
political proclivities, and is a zealous mem- 
ber of the Methodist Episcopal church, as 
was also his wife, who was a woman of 
gentle and gracious character. 



DONALD E. MclNTYRb:. 

Tn jioint of continuous residence the sub- 
ject of this sketch is one of the oldest mem- 
bers of the Cadillac bar and that he has 
achieved marked success in his profession is 
attested by the fact of his having been identi- 
fied with many of the most important cases 
in the circuit since his removal to Wexford 
county, over thirty years ago. 

.\s the iKune indicates, the Mclntyre 
family is of Scotch origin, the subject's 
grandfather. Donald Mclntyre, Sr., having 
been born and reared in Scotland, in \'arious 
parts of which countrv the name is still fa- 
miliar. Many years ago this ancestor came 
to the L'nited States and settled in New 
York, where he married and raised a family, 
among his children being a son by the name 
of Donald, who became one of the leading 
lawvcrs and jurists of I'ulton' county. Don- 
ald .Mclntyre. jr.. pnicticed law for a num- 
ber of vears in the citv of b>hnstown. also 



WEXFORD COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



835 



served as jiidg'c of liis county, and achieved 
liiJiiorahle distinctiuii in liis profession l:)otli 
as a jnrist and practitioner. Somfe time in 
the early 'thirties lie came to IMichigan as 
renresentative of tlie Metropohtan Bank of 
New ^'ork for tlie purpose of investigating 
the currency of this state, and later located 
in Washtenaw county, where he engaged in 
the banking business. He organized the Me- 
chanics Bank at Ann Arbor and became one 
of its largest stockholders and for oxex fifty 
years conducted the institution, during 
which time he acqnire;l wiirlhy prestige as 
an able financier, not only locally but in busi- 
ness circles throughout the state. He was a 
careful and judicious business man of pro- 
gressi\e ideas, exerted potent influence in 
the general growth and development of 
Washtenaw county, and after the organiza- 
ti'ju of the Rejjublican party was elected 
upon that ticket to the general assembly, in 
which body he distinguished himself as a 
capable and popular legislator. In eariy life 
he was an old-line Whig, but wdien that his- 
toric jjarty had accomplished its mission and 
ceased to exist he took an active and earnest 
part in the organization of its successor and 
ever afterwards remained a staunch and un- 
com])r(5mising Republican, becoming a party 
leader in the county of Washtenaw. For 
two terms he was a member of the board 
of regents of the Michigan University, and 
for a number of years served as treasurer 
of the board, in both of which capacities he 
was instrumental in pr(jmoting the useful- 
ness of the unixersitv and gi\ing it the com- 
manding prestige it today enjoys among the 
leading educational institutions of the 
United .States. Donald Mclntyre, Jr., was 
one of the notable men of his day and gen- 
eration in the county of Washtenaw, and as 



already stated, his labor and influence were 
not circumscribed within local bounds, but 
bore in no small degree upon the history 
of the state at large. He lived a long and 
useful life, did his work faithfully and well 
and died at Ann Arbor in [892, at the ripe 
old age of eighty-six years. 

The maiden name of Mrs. Uonald Mcln- 
tyre was Jane Eaker. She was a native of 
New York and died in the prime of life. 
leaving four children, namely : Anna, Mat- 
tie -\., Jennie M. and Donald E. 

Donald E. INIclntyre. to a brief epitome 
of whose life and achievements the residue 
of this article is devoted, was born in Wash- 
tenaw countv. Alichigan, on the 14th day 
of June, 1852. His earh' life was spent in 
Ann Arljor, where he attended the pul)lic 
schools until completing the prescribed 
course, after which he entered the State Uni- 
versity with the object in view of preparing 
himself for the legal profession. In due 
time he was graduated from the literary de- 
]3artment of that institution, the thorough 
mental discipline thus received serving as 
a substantial liasis for the severe profes- 
sional training to which he was afterwards 
subjected while fitting himself for his life 
\\ov\< as a lawver. 

Mr. Mclntyre prosecuted his legal stud- 
ies under es])ecially favorable auspices, 
among- his preceptors being Judge H. J. 
Beaks, who was long recognized as the lead- 
ing' member of the Michigan bar and whose 
name and fame achieved alnmst national re- 
pute. In the university he also enjoyed the 
instruction of some of the ablest legal miiuls 
of the day and after his graduation, in 1871, 
he was well hirtilicd to grapple with the ditifi- 
culties which mark the beginning of nearly 
everv young lawyer's career. 



336 



llEXFORD COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



Receiving his degree, Mr. Mclntyre 
opened an oftlce in Big Rapids, where he 
practiced one year with varied success, and 
at tiie expiration of tliat time selected what 
lie supposed to be and what has since proved 
to be a more favorable field in the village 
of Clam Lake, at that time a small and to all 
appearances unimportant lumber to^\^^, but 
to tlie ambitious attorney an emljryo city 
of Jfcrtain growth and great possibilities. 
In fact the place in the early 'seventies could 
hardly be dignified by the term village, being 
merely a lumber camp with a few indifferent 
buildings on the principal street, but already, 
predictions were rife as to its future devel- 
opment and it was not long until the prophe- 
cies began to be fulfilled. With the growth 
and continual prosperity of the town came 
business of n legal character, in ccjnsec|uence 
lit wliich tlie lawyer's services were much 
sought after and Mr. Mclntyre in due time 
had no lack of well-paying clients. From 
that time to the present his professional 
career presents a series of successes, as he 
has kept in close touch with legal matters in 
this i)art of the state, his name appearing in 
connection with many of the most impor- 
tant cases at the Cadillac bar since this town 
became the seat of justice for the county of 
Wexford. By close application to business 
and commendable studiousness he gradually 
surmounted the obstacles in the path of pro- 
fessional men in new countries and won for 
him.self an honorable reputation as a safe, 
reliable c<Junsellor and successful practition- 
er, his principal object being to excel in his 
chosen calling and prove worthy of the con- 
fidence his clients reposed in his ability and 
judgment. His position as one of the ablest 
and best known lawyers of the Cadillac bar 
has been honorably earned, in jiddition to 



which his reputation has extended to other 
' parts of the state, he being frecpiently re- 
tained as counsel in important litigations in 
the courts of neighboring cities and counties. 
Mr. Mclntyre has manifested a lively in- 
terest in the material prosperity of Cadillac, 
all enterprises with this object in \iew meet- 
ing with his hearty approval, acti\e co- 
operation and. if necessary, his financial en- 
couragement. Since 1871 his career has been 
so closely interwoven with the development 
of the town that the history of the one is 
pretty much the history of both and he stands 
today, as he has stood in the past, one of 
the strong, resourceful men in a comnuui- 
ity which has steadily forged to the front 
as an important commercial and industrial 
center, and which through such agencies 
as his has also become noted for the high 
standard of its social and moral life. 

Politically Mr. Mclntyre wields an in- 
fluence for the Republican party, but he can 
hardly be called a politician in the sense the 
term is usually understood, having no aspira- 
tions for office and no desire whatever for 
pi'blic distinction. Like all intelligent citi- 
zens, however, he is well informed relative 
to the leading questions of the day and is 
by no means averse to expressing his opin- 
ions, consequently the people experience no 
(lifliculty in ascertaining his attitude towards 
measures and issues upon which men and 
parties differ. At the present time he attends 
strictly to his duties as a lawyer and in addi- 
tion thereto does a large and lucrative in- 
surance business, representing a number of 
the largest companies in the United States. 
In all public and private charities his name 
and individual efforts have been ever promi- 
nent, possessing as he does large sympathies 
and an abounding faith in humanitv which 



WEXFORD COUXTV. MJCIllCAX. 



337 



lends him to do many good deeds for his 
fellow men. In all the attributes of honor- 
able manhood — honesty, uprightness of 
character and unimpeachable integrity — he 
stands a commendable example of intelli- 
gent American citizenship and as such his 
influence makes for the general welfare of 
the community in which the greater part of 
his life work has been spent. 

l"he domestic life of Mr. Mclntyre dates 
from 1885, in wliich \ear he was united in 
the bond of wedlock with Miss Sophia 
Mitchell, of New Vork. the accomplished 
daughter of the late George A. Mitchell, 
\\ho for a number of years was one of the 
leading business men and representatixe citi- 
zens of Wexfrd conntv. 



THE CADILLAC STATE BANK. 

Scarcely any form of industrial enter- 
prise is more generally or more unostenta- 
tiously useful in a community than a bank 
or Iianking institution. It is at once a con- 
seryator and a pronn iter — a storage I)at - 
tery and a motiye power — the depository and 
safe-guard of the bread-winner, the home- 
maker, the business man and the manufac- 
turer — the vital l^reath of trade, the inspira- 
tion (if commerce, the strong sinew of pro- 
ductive enter])rise. The history of the strong 
and conservati\e banking institution whose 
title appears at the head of these paragraphs 
dates from the ist day of December, 1883, 
on which date D. A. Blodgett, of Grand 
Rapids, Michigan, and D. F. Diggins, of 
Cadillac, formed a private banking house 
under the name of D. A. Blodgett & Com- 
pany. Mr. Diggins assuming tlie active man- 
agement of the concern, Botii partners were 



men of wide influence and unquestioned 
financial standing and the banking house of 
D. A. Blodgett & Company soon commanded 
a large and profitable business. The busi- 
ness was conducted under the control of the 
gentlemen named until in June, 1892, when 
Mr. Diggins withdrew from the active man- 
agement of the business to enter the lumber 
firm of Blodgett, Cummer & Diggins, and 
upon his retirement Henry Knowlton was 
selecteil for the position of cashier. On the 
1st day of No\'ember, 1895, the private 
organization was succeeded by the Cadillac 
State Bank, which was organized under the 
law s of the state of Michigan, with a paid-in 
capital of fifty thousand dollars. Upon or- 
ganization the following officers were chosen 
and have continued since to serve in their 
respecti\e capacities : President, F. J. 
Cobbs; vice-president, S, W. Kramer; cash- 
ier, Henry Knowlton, The bank has con- 
ducted a regular banking and Savings busi- 
ness, having by their efiforts to accommo- 
date their patrons in the several commercial 
departments acquired a splendid reputation 
as a relialile ami trustworthy financial agent. 
The following comparative statement of the 
condition of the bank shows a very satisfac- 
tory and substantial growth, the figures 
given being from the regular statements is- 
sued by the bank and taken at about equi- 
distant periods since the bank's organization : 
Surplus, December 13. 1895, none; Sep- 
tember 20, i8g8, $12,500.00: September 30, 
1901, .$25,000.00; September 15, 1902, $25,- 
000,00, Undivided profits, December 13, 
1895, $1,026.47; September 20, 1898, 
$2,252.03; September 30, 1901, $16,283.36; 
September 15, 1902, $24,371.16. Deposits, 
December 13, 1895, $228,842.05 ; September 
20, 1898, $403,347.32; September 30, 1901, 



338 



IV EX FORD COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



$439,858.85; Septeinil)ei- 15. 1902. $658,- 
440.89. riie pers(Minel of the present board 
of directors is as follows: F. J. Cobbs, 
S. W. Kramer. W. W. .Mitchell, D. F. Dig- 
gins, Fred L. Reed and Joseph Murphy. It 
would be diflicult to pick otit in tlie city of 
Cadillac another body of men equal in num- 
ber better (|ualiHcd to direct the affairs of a 
fir.ancial institution than the gentlemen just 
mentioned. .Ml are successful and promi- 
nent business men, careful and conservative 
in their methods and tiieir names would add 
strength to any commercial institution with 
which they might become connected. The 
banking ccjuipany owns the building in which 
the Ijank is situateil, it having been erected 
in 1901. It is a handsome and commodious 
structure, complete in all uf its ap])i lintments 
and reflects credit upon the brink itself. The 
interior is finished with nidsaic floors and 
mahogau)' woodwork thrduglmut, the oflice 
fixtures alsii being nf selected mahoganv. 
The bank is e(|uipped with a heavy steel 
burglar-prill if \aull and twd well-arranged 
fire-])ro()f \aults, in which to store the se- 
curities, money, books and supplies and such 
papers as may be confided to their trust. 

The un(|ualilied success of the Cadillac 
State Uank has been in the main largely due 
to the careful and judicious management of 
its ofticers. Each of them is thoroughly 
\crsed in his business and each of their finan- 
cial careers has been such as to gain the con- 
fidence of business men throughout tlie com- 
munity. 

•-•-♦ 

\VELI.IX(iTf>.\' W. Cr]\lMFR. 

Wellington W. Cuninicr, one of the men 
whose activities ha\e had to do with the 
advancement of Cadillac as a municipality 



and who has contrilnited generously to those 
things which were for the betterment of his 
home jjlace, was lx>rn on a farm near Toron- 
to, Canada, on the 21st day of October. 1846, 
— fifty-seven years ago, — his parents be- 
ing Jacob and Mary .\nn Cummer. His 
early boyhood da_\s until i860, when the 
family removed from the farm to X'ewaygo 
village in Newaygo county, Micliigan, were 
passed in the district scliools near his father's 
home an<l in .\cwaygo he continued his stud- 
ies in the \illage high school. This course 
was followed by further instruction in a 
grammar school in W'aterdown, near Ham- 
ilton, Ontario, su])plemented by a commer- 
cial course in the Bryant & Stratton Business 
College in Toronto, his graduation there- 
from taking place in 1864, at the age of 
eighteen years. Jacob Cummer was a llmu"- 
ing nuller. as well as a farmer, in Canada, 
and he continued in milling for sc\eral }-ears 
after coining to Michigan, in conjunction 
with timbering and lumbering. In these 
activities he was assisted by his son, Well- 
ington W. Cummer, whose business career 
began in Xewaygo, the latter's aggressive 
qualities as a conservati\e man of commerce 
combining successfully with his father's 
years of experience. Saw and stave mills 
were operated by Jacob, assisted by \\ ellins.;- 
ton W. Cummer, in Newaygo until 1803, 
when they removed to Croton. In this vil- 
lage they operated a flouring-mill and were 
dealers in camp supplies for five years. Ce- 
dar Sjirings, in Kent county, followed Cro- 
ton, and for two years the father and the 
son engaged in the buying and selling of 
lumber. It was in Morley, in Mecosta coun- 
tv, where the Cummers liegan their careers 
as lumbermen. Wellington W. Cunnner ;niil 
his uncle, T- \N'alter Cummer, built a mill 



ll-J-XfORD COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



839 



in Morley and manufactured lumber for Ja- 
ciil) C'ummei & Sun. a C(i-|)artnerslii|) com- 
posed of Jacob and Wellington \\". Cum- 
mer, the latter firm owning- the land, the 
stumi)age and the lumiber. These timhering 
and lumliering operations were, of course, 
in those days, exclusively in pine. 

Cadillac Ijecame the home of the Cum- 
mers — Jacob and Wellington W. — in 1876. 
and it \\as in this city that they entered upon 
that career which has carried the name of 
Cummer, synonymous with honesty and in- 
tegrit}'. into nearl\- e\ery ci\ili/.ed countr_\' 
in the world. In 1876 Wellington W. Ciun- 
mer manufactured pine lum])er for Jacol) 
t'ummer & Son. This partnership and 
agreement eniled in 189J. when the firm's 
timber holding\s were exhausted and Jacob 
Cummer retired from acti\e participation in 
timbering; and lumbering. During several 
of these years, too, Wellington W. Cummer 
was a member of the tirm of Blodgett, Cum- 
mer & Dig'gins, Cummer & Dig'gins manu- 
facturing ]iine for ljl(jdgett, Cummer & Dig- 
g'ins. ^Jr. Cummer also org"anized the Cum- 
mer Lumber C(jm])any in 1882, tlie members 
thereof l)eing- Wellington W. Cummer and 
Har\ev J. Hollister, and Janies AI. IJarnett, 
of (Jrand I'iapiils, with office head<[uartcrs 
in Cadillac, and this firm, too, eng'aged in the 
mamifacture of pine until 1893, when the 
corporation was dissolved. Cummer & Dig- 
gins (Wellington \V. Cummer and Delos 
F. Diggins) were succeeded by Cummer, 
Dig-gins il' Companv. the new partner being 
Wililam I,. Saunders, and this firm is now 
operating in Cadillac in pine and hardwt)od, 
and is also manufacturing chemicals in one 
of the most complete chemical plrmts in the 
United States. Wellington W. Cummer or- 
ganized, in 1892, the year when he began liis 



larger operations in timber anil luiuljer out- 
side of his home city, The Cummer Com- 
l)an\- anil succeeded Lakies & Collins in Xor- 
folk. \'irginia. in the manufacture (A- short 
leaf pine. Wellingt(.in W. and Jacob Cum- 
mer, Edward C. l*"osburgh. who was for 
several years identified with the Cummer in- 
terests in Cadillac, James M. Barnett, Hru"- 
vey J. Hollister and Mac George Bundy 
were the incorporators 'of The Cummer 
Company in Norfolk. This incorporation 
remained in existence for nine years — until 
i()02 — and became one of the largest opera- 
tors in short leaf pine in the southern coun- 
try. It was succeeded in 1902 by the Fos- 
bnrgh Lumber Com])any. of which Mr. Fos- 
burgh is the president and the general man- 
ager, hi 189G, sex'en years ago, Mr. Cum- 
mer, who in the meantime had become finan- 
cially interested in Florida timber, Ijuilt two 
band (single cutting) saw-mills in the city 
of Jacksonville, the metropolis of the Flower 
state, and entered upon the manufacture of 
lumber umler t'le firm name of the Cununer 
Lumber Comprmy, the partners now being 
Jacob Cummer, Wellington W. Cummer, 
.\rtliur Ci. Cummer and Waldo Iv Cummer. 
l'"ire destroyed the Jacksoinille plant in 
1897. a saw -mill, a planing-mill. four large 
(lr\' kilns, lumber sheds, tranvwavs. and six 
million feet of timber, ready for the mar 
ket, being wiped out of e.xistence by the 
flames, it is estimated that the \-alue of the 
])roperty destroyed was one hundred and six- 
ty-two thousand dollars, and on this prop- 
erty the insurance was one liun<lred and ten 
thousand dcjllars, a net loss of fifty-two thou- 
sand dollars. Rebuilding o]UM"ations imiiie- 
diately followed the fire in 1897, V.. 1'. .\llis, 
of Alilwaukee, who is now a member of the 
.•\llis-Chalmers Company, supplying all the 



340 



UEXFORD COUNTY. MICHIGAN. 



macliincry. Two ( doiil>le-cuttiiig) band 
mills arc included in the rebuilt plant in 
Jackson\-ille, which ww has a productive 
capacity of furty-two jier cent, in excess of 
the plant destroyed by the fire, and it is 
probably one of the largest lumbering plants 
in the c(juntry south of the Mason and Dixon 
line. 

Air. Cummer's activities in the south 
have not been confined to the mammoth 
Jacksonville plant, but ha\e permeated other 
lines of industrial affairs. He built the Jack- 
sonville & Southwestern Railway — out of 
Jacksonville — in 1899 for the carrying of 
logs and timber for the Cummer Lumber 
Company. This railway is eighty-eight 
miles in length. It was at first operated 
solely for the Cummer Lumber Company, 
but its value to the section of Florida 
through wliich its trains passed necessitated 
an e(|ui])ment for a ])assengcr business, and 
it is now operated for both freight and pas- 
sengers. C. A\'. Chase and associates, of 
Ciaines\ille. Fhjrida. l)ecamc the owner of 
the Jacksonville & Southwestern Railwa\- in 
1903. only a few weeks ago. 

Mr. Cummer is a member of The Cum- 
mer Company, organized in 1903 in Jackson- 
xillc, Morida, the charter of the Norfolk 
Company being dissolved, and W. W. Cum- 
mer & Sons, organized in 1903, in Jackson- 
ville, Morida. Jacob (_ umnier and ^\^ W. 
Cinuuicr and the hitler's two sons, Ar- 
tluu (i. and Waldd 1'^. Cummer, are the 
members ot The Cummer Companv. and 
W . \\ . ('ummer and his two sons are 
tlic p:n-tuers in W. W. Cummer i.\: Sons. 
Both of these firms are hea\ih" inter- 
ested in southern timbers. The Cummer 
L'limpany owning iwn hundred and twen- 
ty-live million feet i>f cypress and one 



hundrcfl million feet of pine, and W. W. 
Cummer & Sons owning one hundred and 
seventy-fi\'e million feet of cypress and sev- 
eral large tracts of pine, all in Florida. Mr. 
Cummer has. at various times, been finan- 
cially interested, too. in co-partnership with 
other capitalists in southern timbers in states 
other than Florida, but his operations are 
now almcjst entirely confined to the country 
tributary to the Jacksonville plant. 

-Mr. Cummer's interests in Cadillac in- 
clude his membership in the firm of Cummer, 
Diggins & Com])any, operating in hardwood 
and in chemicals, and his ownership of the 
Cummer Electric Light Company and the 
Cadillac Water Company jjlants. these two 
latter representing an investment appro.xi- 
mating two hundred thousand ddllars. Mr. 
Cummer built the electric light plant in 1S88 
and succeeded M. X. Creen in iSSi in the 
ownership of the water plant, lloth of tliese 
plants are under the superintendencx- and 
management of (ieorge D. \\'esto\er. and 
both are modern and complete in ef|uii)mcnt. 
Cummer, Diggins & Company own and oper- 
ate a saw-mill, a planing-mill and a chemical 
plant, and are large producers of hardwood 
luml)er and flooring and chemicals. 

Mr. Cummer was married, im the 1 ith 
day of October. 1872. to Miss Ada M. Ger- 
rish, the daughter of Xathaniel and Caro- 
line (ierrish. ]\Ir. and Mrs. Cummer are the 
parents of one daughter. Mabel C. Cummer, 
and two sons, Arthur G. and \\'aldo F. 
Cummer. Both of the sons are interested 
with their father in his various business en- 
terprises, and both are capable, successful 
and progressive young business men. 

Although Mr. Cummer's life from Ixiy- 
hood has been a Ijusy one and his opera- 
tions have been large and have permeated 



IVEXPORD COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



841 



nearly all sections of his adopted country, 
lie has Ijecn liberal and g'enerons in his con- 
trilnitiuns ol time and money to public af- 
fairs and charitable and benevolent purposes, 
never forgetting that the highest type of 
citizenship is that which is mindful nf hnme. 
friend, neighbor ;nid country. Mr. Cum- 
mer's public service as an official includes 
a term as mayor of Cadillac, several years 
as an alderman, eight years as a school in- 
spector, as a presidential elector in 1888 
from the ninth congressional tlistrict, his 
vote being-cast for Benjamin Harrison, and 
six years — from 1895 to 1901 — as a mem- 
ber of the board of trustees for the Northern 
Michig-an Asylum for the Insane, the latter 
appointment coming from Governor John T. 
Rich. In these positions Mr. Cummer served 
acceptably, honorably and satisfactorily, his 
business experiences antl his interest in pub- 
lic affairs making him a valuable serx-ant of 
the people. In political sympathies Mr. Cum- 
mer is a Republican, and the political party 
to which he owes allegiance has found him 
a loyal, earnest and persistent worker in the 
ranks, helpful in counsel and generous and 
wi'ling in eff<.irt. Jacksonville became the le- 
gal residence of Mr. Cummer and his familv 
in 1902, the plants in that city, the Jackson- 
ville & Southwestern Railway and Mi . Cum- 
mer's timber interests not only requiring, 
but denianding. liis personal attention and 
direction. In Jacksonxiilc. Mr. Cummer 
identified himself with jiulilic affairs and 
interested himself in benevolences and char- 
ities and all those things which ccnitribute 
to the weal and welfare of a comniunit.y. 
Mr. Cumniei is the vice-president of the 
Jacksonxille Board of Trade, an organiza- 
tion of three hundred leading business men, 
the strongest organization of its kind in all 



the south, and the organization is now erect- 
ing a building foi il-^elf which is to C(_>st fifty 
thousand dollars. Mr. Cummer was also 
selected, in 1903, for a membership on the 
board of trustees of the Jacksonxille schools, 
a ])osition of imi)ortancc and intluenct in 
that its work prepares the boys and girls 
of today— the men and women of tomorrow 
— for citizenship in the greatest republic 
under the shining sun. He is also a trustee 
of the Carnegie Library Association now- 
erecting a fifty-thousand dollar building. 

This, in brief, is the story of the life of 
a successful Cadillac business man, who, 
through all the changing years of turmcjil 
and strife, the years of struggle in small 
things and the years of triumph in large 
things, has carried the family name in honor, 
has retained his self-respect, has forgotten 
not the duties devolving upon him as a citi- 
zen, as a husband and as a father. Such a 
life as this is an inspiration to the young 
men upon whose shoulders will fall the bur- 
dens of tomorrow. 

Mr. and Mrs. Cummer have always in- 
terested themseh'es in worthy beaievolences, 
and in Cadillac hax'C established and main- 
taine<l an institution which will preserve 
the names in kindly remembrance long 
after the imposing monument and the costly 
mausoleum have crumbled into dust and 
passed from the minds of men. Appreciat- 
ing the importance of education and the fur- 
ther fact that its advantages are necessarily 
Sometimes withheld fr(_)ni many children, 
Mrs. Cummer, several years ago. decided to 
establish a kindergarten in her home city. 
Mrs. Cummer was assisted by Mr. Cummer 
in her plans for tlie children of Cadillac, and 
in 1895 t'^^ school was opened, with a corps 
of expert teachers in charge. Mr. and Mrs. 



342 



WEXFORD COUNTY. MICHIGAN. 



Cummer afterwards built an addition to the 
First Congregational church for tlie kinder- 
garten, and supplied it with a complete equip- 
ment for the training — manual and mental 
— of the little hoys and girls and their prep- 
aration for the higher studies in the public 
schools. Three teachers and one voluntary 
assistant are now employed in this kinder- 
garten, and on the membership njll are the 
names of ncarl\- cine and a half hundred of 
children. Instruction in this school is with- 
out money antl without price and its useful- 
ness in the cit\- is recognized and appreciated 
by all classes and within its walls the chil- 
dren of the poor and the rich sit side b)' side, 
forgetting the inequalities of social condi- 
tions, and receive the training which is to 
assist ihcm in after years in the inevitable 
struggle for jjlace and power in the Ameri- 
can republic. It is a worthy benefactit)n. is 
the free kindergarten established and main- 
tained In- Mr. ;!ud .Mrs. Cummer, and as a 
monumeul to their helpful li\es will he more 
enduring llian a shaft of marlile or pyramid 
of stone. 

Some ide;i of .Mr. Cummer's present 
operations may be gained through the state- 
ment that three luindrcil and .se\'entv-tive 
men are on the Cummer, Diggins & Coni- 
])any p.ayroll in C'aclillac .and that f(nu" hun- 
ilred .-md l\\enly-h\e men are on the Cummer 
]. umber • ompany's p.'wroll in Jacksonville, 
i'doriila. In his relations with his emjjloyes 
Mr. t'ummer is kindh', courteous, and in- 
terested in their welfare. Their ])ersonal 
plans and ambitions have always appealed 
to liini, and he has alwaws been willinglv 
heliilul to them in whatever thev haxe en- 
tered ui)on ;is a means of advancing them- 
selves or in ])reparing themseh'es for better 
things in life. 



HEXRV KXOWLTOX. 

To present in detail the leading facts of 
the life of one of Cadillac's enterprising men 
of affairs and throw light upon some of his 
m<M"e prominent characteristics, is the task 
in hand in sulnnitting a brief biography of 
the well-known gentleman whose name ap- 
pears above. Though still in the prime of 
life, Henrv Knowlton has won an honorable 
])lace in the business world, liesides impress- 
ing his strong personality upon the commun- 
ity where for a number of years he has been 
a forceful factor in financial circles. Mr. 
Knowlton is a worthy representative of one 
of the oldest and most highly respected i)io- 
neer families of Ottawa count}', his father. 
William Knowlton, ha\ing settled in that 
l)art of the slate when it was a wilderness, 
in due lime clearing and developing a fine 
farm and becoming one of the leading agri- 
tulluiisls and representalixes of what is now 
the township of Chcstei . < )n the old home- 
stead in Chester township the >nliiect o| ihis 
review lu'st saw the light of day. his birth 
dating from Seiitember 17. iSoi. Reared 
in close touch with naliu'e in the country, he 
early became familiar with the \aried duties 
of farm life, and grew up with a ])roper ap- 
preciation of the dignity of hone.st toil, know- 
ing little iiy practical experience of the mean- 
ing of idleness. In the i)ublic schools of 
Ottawo and Kent counties he obtained a 
fair educational tr.aining, and on attaining 
bis majority he came to Cadillac, entering, 
in October, 1882, the employ of H. D. Wal- 
lin. Jr., as clerk in the office of the Michigan 
Iron Works. In his clerical capacity Mr. 
Knowlton soon developed fine abilities and 
became one of the useful and trusted men 
connected with the above enterprise, contin- 



WEXFORD COUNTY, ^MICHIGAN. 



343 



xuug witli the company until 1887, in T'eb- 
niar\- of wliicli year lie resigned liis position 
for the i)urpose of accepting- a more lucrative 
l)ost, with the private hanking firm of D. 
-\. Blodgett Company. ]\Ir. Knowlton en- 
tered tlie latter concern in a minor capacity, 
hut, by reason of efficiency and conscienti(ius 
fidelity to duty, gradually rose to more re- 
sponsible stations, each succeeding year add- 
ing to his reputation as an accomplished ac- 
countarit and able financier. Since 1887 he 
has been constantly before the public in posi- 
tions requiring the highest order of business 
talent, holding at this time the office of cash- 
ier in the Cadillac State Bank, in which ca- 
]iacitv he lias gained worthy prestige in 
(inamrial circles, being a man of mature jutlg- 
ment, unimpcachalile integrity, a hard work- 
er, careful in his methods and conservative 
as well as eminently successful in all his 
dealings. 

As may lie readily inferred from the 
aliove, Mr. Knowlton occupies no second 
place in the confidence and esteem of his fel- 
lowmen, ha\-ing won the responsible posi- 
tion he now commands by loyalty to e\"cry 
trust reposed in him as well as by the ability 
and energy displayed in his peculiar field of 
endeavor. He is a man of wise foresight, 
whose enterprising spirit no difficulties can 
discourage, and, with a tenacity of purpose 
as rare as it is admirable, he seems to pos- 
sess the faculty of moulding circumstances to 
suit his purposes, rather than being affected 
by them. J lis sagacity in matters coming 
within his s])here is most pronounced, being 
rarelv mistaken in his judgment of men and 
things, and he foresees with remarkable 
clearness future possibilities relatix'e to his 
business interests and determines with a high 



degree of accuracy their probable bearing. 
He has made a close and careful study of 
financial questions, is familiar with every de- 
tail of banking and much of the success of 
the popular institution with which he is 
officially connected is due to his able and 
judicious l)usiness methods. In all his tran- 
sactions lie has e\er manifested a disposition 
to do as he would be done by and by reason 
of his continued success, unblemished char- 
acter and just and liberal life he has nobly 
earned the universal esteem in which he is 
held by his fellow men. It is not as a busi- 
ness man only that Mr. Knowlton has come 
])rominentlv to the notice of the people, as 
he has long been a potential factor in the do- 
main of politics. Since attaining his majority 
he has l)een an uncompromising supporter of 
the Republican party and as such his influ- 
ence has had great weight in local affairs, 
having for five years represented the third 
ward in the common council of Cadillac, be- 
sides serving one year as mayor of the city. 
As a member of the council he w'as instru- 
mental in introducing and bringing about 
nuich important municipal legislation, and 
it was dnring his incumbency as chief ex- 
ecuti\'e that the present beautiful city h;dl 
was planned and erected, in addition to 
which many other improvements were pro- 
vided, including the systenij of free mail de- 
livery. 

\\'hile serving in public capacities Mr. 
Knowlton was untiring in his efforts to pro- 
mote the cit)'s material welfare and was 
acti\e in all matters of municipal reform, 
looking carefulh- after the people's interests, 
using his inlluencc to discourage la\'ish or 
injudicious expenditures and by e\'ery means 
at his ciuumand gu.arding the public funds 



344 



ly EX FORD COUNTY. MICHIGAN. 



aiifl conserving all availaljle resources. To 
him as much as to any one individual is Cad- 
illac indebted for the prosperity which has 
marked the last decade of its history, as he 
has labored earnestly to beautify the city and 
make it a desirable place of residence, besides 
advertising its advantages to the world as 
a favorable locality for the investment of 
ca|)ital. 

Mr. Kudwltmi beliexcs in j)rogress and 
inipro\ement in ;ill the terms imply, when 
])r()perly conducted, ami he has long been 
;m ardent advocate of all measures looking 
to the commercial and industrial advance- 
ment of both city and county, much of the 
credit for the present excellent highway sys- 
tem being directly attributable to his efforts 
and influence. Believing the employment of 
labor to be among the most judicious and 
effective means by which a community may 
becoine progressive and prosperous, he has 
been untiring in his efforts to locate indus- 
tries and iitJier enterprises at Cadillac, using 
his best en(lea\(irs to attract capital and in- 
duce investments, with the result that every 
enteriirising citizen has well-grounded confi- 
dence in the future prosperity of this section 
of the state, lie was a leading spirit in the 
Commercial Club of Cadillac, which, in Feb- 
ruary, 1903, was succeeded by the Cadillac 
Board of Trade, holding the office of secre- 
tary at the present time, and in addition to 
his interest in city affairs, he is e(|ually active 
in advancing the agricultiu\'i] and general 
l)rosperity of Wexford county, tbroughotit 
which his name has become widclv and fa- 
x'orabjy kni i\\ n. 

Without in\i(lious distinction, it can be 
truthfully said that Mr. Knowlton is pre- 
eminently one ijf I adiJlac's most enterpris- 



ing and successful men. In every walk of 
life his chief aim has been to do his duty and 
his friends feel jjurkI of him as a broad- 
minded, intelligent citizen and useful mem- 
ber of society. While giving personal atten- 
tion to his private interests and discharging 
conscientiously all the duties of citizenship, 
he finds time to devote to the higher claims 
growing out of man's relations as a social 
being, hence he is ever ready to assist the 
poor and unfortunate, not a little of his 
means being dispensed through the channels 
of ch.uity and benevolence. 

On th.e 20th of January, 1886. Mr. 
Knowlton was united in marriage with Miss 
.\llic Bishop, of Ottawa county, a union 
blessed with one child, a daughter by the 
name of Jose])hine. The hapj)y home circle 
was sadly broken, however, by the death of 
Mrs. Knowlton, which occtu"red on the _>Slh 
of May. lyo.v 

I'Vom the foregoing brief outline of a 
busy career, it is not difficult to arrive at a 
just estimate of Mr. Knowlton"s character 
or to lix his proper standing in the coni- 
innnit}'. P.eginning the struggle of life in 
moderate circumstances, he has not only re- 
moved from his pathway the obstacles cal- 
culated to impede his progress and gained 
an honorable ]iosition in the Inisiness world, 
but has also lixed to become a power for 
good in the coniinunitv where he dwells. 
Interested in all that tends to benefit his 
fellows, materially, educationally and mor- 
all\', his infiucnce has always been exerted 
in the right direction and from what he has 
accomplished along the lines to which his 
talents have been devoted it is easy to see 
that the world has been blessed and made 
better bv his presence. 



WEXFORD COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



845 



KI.ISHA II. B(3YNTOX. 

A \ery larg;e per cent, of those who lia\e 
atlained prominence in tliis country were 
Ijorn and reared upon the farm. From the 
woods, tlie fields and meadows they entered 
upon careers of usefuhiess whicli in very 
many instances cuhiiinated in placing some 
of them in the most exalted positions in 
the nation. Life in the woods, in the clear- 
ing and in the fields brings the youth in 
much closer touch with nature than does any 
other calling and, when imbtted with ambi- 
tion to rise above his surroundings, the les- 
sons of industry he has learned, the knowl- 
edge of nature he acquired and the self-con- 
fidence which farm life gi\-es are splendid 
aids in gTatifying his ambition. But a very 
large majority of the ■\-ouths who are born 
and reared upon the farm choose to remain 
there, and although they mav be charged 
with lack of ambition, and accused of "hid- 
ing their light under a bushel," who shall 
say that their lives have not been as happy, 
as worthy or as useful to the world as their 
more ambitious neighlx)rs who have climljed 
well up the ladder of fam« and whose names 
have emblazoned the pages of history. The 
subject of this article, Elisha M. Boynton, 
of Greenwood township, is one of those who 
preferred to continue his life on the farm 
rather than engage in other pursuits, even 
though more profit might be realized there- 
bv. He was born near Plattsburg, New 
^'ork, October jg, 1843. His parents were 
Elijah and Polly (Hazen) Boynton, he a 
native of New York and she of Vermont. 
They settled near Plattsburg, New York, 
on a farm, where tlicv continued to reside 
until their deatli. lie died in 1.^46, at the 
age of sixtv-seven vears, while she died 



a number of years later, being se\enty years 
old at the time of her death. They were the 
parents of four children, one son and three 
daughters. The son is Elisha M., the sub- 
ject of this review, who was the third child 
of the family. Until reaching the age of thir- 
teen he resided on the old home farm near 
Plattsburg, and then moved to Clinton coun- 
ty. New York, where he remained until the 
breaking out c:)f the war of the Rebellion. 

In Octolier, 1861, Mr. Boynton enlisted 
in the United States service as a private sol- 
dier, a member of Company M. Ninth New- 
York Ca\-alry. He servetl with his regi- 
ment eighteen months, taking part in many 
important eng-agements, when he was dis- 
charged and returned to Clinton county. 
.\fter devoting a few months to rest and 
recreation, be again enlisted, this time in 
Company il. Second New York Veteran 
Cavalry, and ser\ed with that regiment until 
long after the close of the Civil war. No- 
\ember 8, 1865, he was mustered out of the 
service and again returned to Clinton county, 
where he took up his old vocation, that of 
a farmer, and continued to prosper. 

In the spring of 1879, having been im- 
pressed with the possibilities of a life in cen- 
tral Michigan, he moved to Montcalm coun- 
ty and readily secured eiuployment in the 
woods, logging and lumliering\ He fol- 
lowed this \'Ocation in Montcalm county 
until the autumn of 1884, when he 
came to Wexford countv and settled on a 
tract of forty acres of wild land, a part of 
section 35, Creenwood townshii). It is the 
same piece of land on which he now resides, 
but a vast change has taken place in the ap- 
pearance which it presented then. About 
thirty of its acres have been thoroughly 
cleared of wood and stumjis and for many 



34G 



WEXFORD COUNTY. MICHIGAN. 



years the farm has heen splendidly culti- 
w'lted. The land is fertile and productive 
and each year the subject has been gratified 
by garnering in satisfactory crops. His 
farm l)uildings are all that could l)e desired, 
large, substantial and conveniently arranged. 
It is a most comfortable home and the re- 
tiu'us from the little farm, in stock and crops, 
finniish them each year a snug income. 

December g, 1867, Elisha M. Boynton 
was united in marriage to Miss Xettie Dun- 
das, a native of Xew York, born in Clinton 
county. May 4, 1845. She is the daughter 
of James and Jane ( Doran ) Dundas. resi- 
dents of CliiUon county. Xew York. Mr. 
and Mrs. IJoynton are the parents of ten 
children, four of whom died early in life. 
Those living are, Eugenie, John, Herljert, 
Mabel, Harvey and Ada. The children are 
all intelligent, possessed of a fair education 
;ind ha\e been sclujoled in hal)its of industry 
which cannot fail to make them capable and 
useful. During his residence of nineteen 
years in Greenwood township Mr. Boynton 
has been acti\cl\- interested in all public af- 
fairs. ]);iriicularl\- those relating to that sec- 
tion of the county wherein he resides. He 
scr\ed ;is highway commissioner a number 
of times and was school inspector several 
years. At the present time he occupies the 
position i'\ justice of the ])eace and township 
treasurer. While his life has' been an e.x- 
ceedingly ;tcti\e one. largely dexoted to 
])atient toil, it h;is been by no means devoid 
of happiness. M;m)' a man whose possess- 
ions arc many f<}ld greater than his has 
known but a very small p;irt of the contem- 
metU and pleasure that has come to Kli.sha 
M. Boynton dm-ing the various stages of 
his career. He is a good man, who has lived 
n worthy life, and good;-.css. equal with vir- 
tue, is its own reward. 



KICF.XE E. S AWYER. 

The law is generally conceded to be the 
most exacting of the learned professions 
and to achieve distinction therein requires 
not only natural abilities of a high order, 
but long years of ])atient study and pains- 
taking research, supplemented by a knowl- 
edge of human nature .such as the ordinary 
mind does not |)ossess. Whatever else may 
be said of this calling, it has always been 
the great arbiter of human rights and it 
cannot be denied that members of the bar 
have lieen more active and influential in 
])ublic afi'airs as directors of thought and 
moulders of opinion than any other class 
of men. This is but the natural result of 
causes that are manifest and rwjuire no 
explanation. The ability and training which 
qualify one for the practice of law also fit 
him in many resi)ects for duties which lie 
(Hilside the strict ])ath of the profession and 
which touch and aftect the general interests 
of societ}- and the state. Hence the majority 
of lawyers are broad-minded, many-sided 
men, capable of grasping (piestions, ap])reci- 
ating situations and controlling conditions 
upon which the well being of the body 
politic very largely depends. 

Holding marked prestige among the 
leading Lawyers of Wexford county is I'.u- 
gene V. Sawyer, at this lime the oldest ])nic- 
ticing attorney in the city of Cadillac .ind one 
of the most successful members of ;i bar 
lomj- noted for the high order of its legal 
talent. Mr Sawyer was born May 8, 1848. 
in the city of (irand Rapids, being the son 
of James and Susan C. ( Xardin ) Sawyer, 
the father a native of Englaml. the mother 
a descendant of an old Huguenot family 
who.se ancestors in this country came from 
Erance. lames Saw ver c.ime to the L'nited 




EUOENE F. SAWYER. 



WEXFORD COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



847 



States as early as 1834, settling at Grand 
Rapids when that flourishing city was but 
a mere backwoods hamlet, the Nanlins mov- 
ing to the same place about four years later. 
The subject's parents were married in 
Grand Rapids, and there reared their 
family and spent the remainder of their 
days, both dying a number of years ago. 

Eugene F. Sawyer spent the years of his 
childhood and youth in his native town and 
received his education in the public schools, 
graduating in 1S68 from the high school of 
Grand Rapids, with a creditable record as 
a student. During the early years of his 
manhood he followed farming and of winter 
seasons taught school, in this way earning 
suflicient money to defray the expenses of 
a course in the Michigan University, which 
he entered in the fall of 1870, for the pur- 
pose of preparing himself for the legal pro- 
fession. Three years later he was gradu- 
ated from the law department of that insti- 
tution and immediately thereafter came to 
Cadillac, where he opened an office and 
soon took high rank among the leatling 
members of the Wexford county bar. For 
two years he was associated with S. S. 
Fallas, but at the expiration of that time 
effected a copartnership with James R. 
Bishop, which, under the style of Sawyer 
& P)ishop, has continued to the present time, 
and which is universally conceded to be one 
of the strongest and most successful legal 
flrms in the northern part of the state. As 
a Iaw\'er Mr. Sawyer has alwa\-s been a 
safe coiuisellor and judicious practitioner, 
being well grounded in the fundamental 
principles of jurisprudence, with the ability 
and tact to apply the same in the most 
obstruse and technical cases. I-'roui the be- 
ginning of his professional career be has 



exhibited fine legal talent, his chief aim be- 
ing to acquire a critical knowledge of the 
law, which, coupled with the ability to pre- 
sent and successfully maintain any cause 
undertaken, has won him a large and lucra- 
tive practice in the courts of Wexford and 
neighboring counties. He is a close, logical 
and judicious pleader, prepares his papers 
with great skill and caution so that wdien his 
cases come to trial he is amply able to meet 
the issues with little fear as to results at the 
hands of either court or jury. His treat- 
ment of his cases is always full, compre- 
hensive and accurate, his analysis of the 
facts clear and exhaustive, and He sees with 
easy effort the relation and dependence of 
the facts and so groups them as to en- 
able him to throw their combined force up- 
on the points they tend to elucidate and 
prove. In the trial of a cause he is always 
master of himself, deferential to the court, 
kind and courteous towards opposing coun- 
sel, examining witnesses very thoroughly, 
but treating them with the respect that sel- 
dom fails to gain their confidence and good 
will. As a speaker he is direct, logical and 
forcible, presenting his facts clearly and 
concisely and impressing them with strong 
and eloquent appeals which seldom fail to 
impress juries with the justness of his 
cause. The firm of which Mr. Sawyer is 
senior member has been identified with 
nearly all important litigation at the Cadillac 
bar for many years past, and in every case 
of anv prominence the subject is retained 
either f(.ir the prosecution or defence, bis 
well-known abilities causing his services to 
be in great demand, .\side from his pro- 
fession, Mr. Saw\'er has been an influential 
factor in the material growth and prosperity 
of Cadillac, taking an active interest in all 



348 



WEXFORD COUNTY. I'lICHlGAN. 



public itnprovenients ami spending no little 
of his time and money to make this city 
the center of trade and culture for northern 
Michigan. l'\)r a nunihcr nf years he has 
been secretary of the Cailillac Improvement 
Board, the objects of which are to locate 
industries, inaugurate improvements and in 
many other ways promote the industrial, 
commercial and financial advancement of the 
city and advertise its adx'antages to the 
world as a faxnrite ])lace for the in\est- 
ment of capital and as a beautiful and health- 
ful locality in which to reside. Air. Sawyer 
was one of the chief promoters of the west- 
ern division of the Toledo & j\nn Arbor 
Railroad and for several years served as its 
local attorney, the success of the line in this 
part of the state being largely due to the 
interest he manifested in its l>ehalf. As an 
ardent friend of popular education he has 
done much to j^romote the efficiency of the 
public schools (_)f Cadillac, serving for a 
number of years on the board of trustees, 
in which ca])acit} he was untiring in his 
efforts to improve the system, by weeding 
out incomjietent teachers and securing those 
of a higher order of intellectual and pro- 
fessional training. In the language of an- 
other. "It is claimed that wdiile serving as 
trustee, he was, and still is, better accjuainted 
with the public schools of Cadillac than any 
other person in the city not engaged in 
teaching," the justness of which compliment 
everybody at all familiar with the circum- 
stances cheerfully concedes. 

While prosecuting his legal studies in the 
University of Michigan Mr. Sawyer became 
acquainteil with an estimable lady of varied 
culture by the name of Miss Kate Si])ley. 
whiim he afterwards married ;nid with 
whom his life has since been spent in the 



most felicitous home relations. Mrs. Saw- 
yer is the daughter of John F. Sipley, of 
.\un Arlxir, and she has borne her husband 
twii children, Christobell and Olive, both 
bright, intelligent and popular with the 
social circles in which they move. 

Politically Mr. Sawyer may be classed as 
an independent, holding to no particular 
pruly l)ut suppurting men and measures 
which in his judgment make for the best 
interest of the public in both lucal and state 
affairs. It has been his boast that he has 
not voted a straight ticket of any kind since 
he could remember, which course has doubt- 
less prevented his elevation to high official 
stations, which he is so well and wnrthily 
(|ualified to hold. 

All who know Mr. Sawyer recognize his 
sterling worth as a lawyer and citizen and 
appreciate his many efforts and self sacrifices 
for public good. He is constitutionally 
honest and true, with a high ciincei)lion of 
the dignity of manhood and the genuine 
])ride of character that make it impossible 
for him to do anything little, sordid or in 
any way disrei)utable. He possesses in an 
eminent degree the moral courage wiiich 
more than any other human attribute con- 
stitutes the m;m, the steadfast, reliable 
friend, the true Christian and the patriotic 
citizen. He is a man of deep and profound 
religions comictions. belonging, with his 
family, to the h'irst Congregational church 
of Cadillac, for the material supjjort of 
which he contributes liberally of his means. 
He makes religion a part of his every-day 
concerns, demonstrating by a life singularly 
free from faults the jiure. simple faith which 
he has lung ])r(>fesscd. In ever\' relation, 
.Mr. I^.'iwyer is easily the ])eer of anv of 
his fellows in all that constitutes strong. 



J r EX FORD COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



349 



vigorous manliooil and tluring his long 
period of residence in L'adillac his name has 
Ijeen synonymous witli ail tliat is mural and 
upright in citizenship. 1 le has honored 
e\'ery station to which he has been called 
anil in years to come his naine and fame 
will be cherished by a people who look upon 
him as a lawyer of distinguished ability, a 
citizen withdut pretense, a public benefactor 
whom the attractions of office could not 
entice, and as a man who, seeing and under- 
standing his duty, strove by all means within 
liis power to do the same as he wnuld answer 
to his conscience and his God. 



GEORGE A. LAKE. 

George A. Lake is now a well-known, 
prosperous and enterprising merchant of 
Sherman, where he is engaged in the hard- 
ware and grocery business. His success in 
all his undertakings lias been so marked that 
his methods are of interest to tiie commer- 
cial world. He has based his business prin- 
ciples and actions upon strict adherence to 
the rules which govern econniuy, iniUistry 
and unswerving integrity. His enterprise 
and ])rogressive spirit have made liim a typi- 
cal American in every sense of the word and 
lie well deserves mention in this history. 
What he is today lie has made himself, for 
he began in the world with nothing but his 
own energy and willing hands to aid him. 
By constant exertion, associated with good 
judgment, he has raised himself to a credit- 
able i)i)sili(in in trade circles, liaving the 
friendshi]) of many and the resjiect of all 
who know him. 

Mr. Lake was born on a farm in I'enn 



township, Cass county, Michigan, Septem- 
ber i8, 1857, a son of George and Sarah 
(Cate) Lake. The father was a farmer by 
occupation and was killed by a stroke of 
lightning on his farm, in April, 1866. His 
widow still sur\-i\es him. They were the 
parents of five sons and a daughter, George 
A. being the second in order of birth. He 
was only about eight years of ag^e at the time 
of his father's tleath and from that time he 
has made his own way in the world and he 
also assistefl in the support of his mother 
and the younger children of the family. He 
remained a resident of his native county un- 
til fourteen years of age, when he removed 
to Manistee county, Michigan, settling on a 
farm six and a half miles west of Wexford 
Corners, in Cleon township, wdiere he made 
his home for several years, although during 
that time he was employed at farm labor 
by others and also worked in the lumber 
woods. When he was about twenty years of 
ag'e he began business on his own account, 
but fate still held in store for him many 
hardships and difficulties, but he has met 
these with a resolute spirit and strong deter- 
mination and has at length come ofif con- 
queror in the strife. His hrst venture on 
his own behalf was in lumbering at Walton 
Junction, wdiere he remained for a brief 
period. He purchased logs and had them 
sawed into lumber, liut had the misfortune 
to lose three carloads. This was a severe 
blow to the young man just starting out for 
himself. I'or three summers he was em- 
ployed in the operation of a threshing ma- 
chine in Wexford township and during the 
winter months he worked in the lumber 
woods. He was .also emploved bv different 
farmers in Wexford towushii) and operated 
rented land for a season. .About that time 



350 



Jl'EXfORD COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



he secured the agency for the sale of wind- 
mills and horse rakes and was thus engaged 
fur a time, traveling on foot through the 
niirthwcstern part of Wexford county, but 
becoming ill almost two years passed before 
lie was again able to work. Upon his re- 
covery he walked to Sherman, where he ar- 
rived without money and was forced to 
pawn lii^ ci\ercoat to pay for a week's board, 
but by doing various chores he was able to 
redeem the garment at the end of that time. 
^Ir. Lake obtained emi)loymcnt with a man 
who was buying cattle through the county 
and after several weeks sjjcnt in that way he 
worked at whatever he could find to do that 
would yield him an honest living, saving 
from his earnings sixty dollars, which he 
added to seventy-five dollars which he had 
made on the sale of three )oke of cattle, 
thus becoming the ])ossessor of a capital of 
one hundred ;uid thirty-five ilollars. SuIj- 
sequently he sold agricultural implements 
for four or five years and at one time he 
emjjlo\-C(l six men to assist him in putting 
up the implements and constructing the 
windmills. This was a period of prosperity, 
well merited by Mr. Lake, who had made 
such a determined and strong fight to gain 
a .start. Llis attention was directed to the 
implement business through the summer sea- 
sons and in the winter months he engaged 
in lumbering, taking off the timber from 
small tracts of land which he had been able 
to purchase. I'or se\cral years he thus fol- 
lowed lumbering, realizing a fair profit from 
his labors. Purchasing a livery stable, he 
conducted it for seven or eight years, at first 
ha\'ing but six horses, but gradually he in- 
creased the number until he kept from thir- 
ty five to fifty head in order to meet the de- 
mands of his patronage, licfore selling his 



livery stable he became interested in mer- 
chandising in Sherman, entering into part- 
nership with IL P). Sturtevant under the firm 
name of G. A. Lake & Company, dealers in 
shelf and heavy hardware and groceries. 
They carry a' large line of goods, carefully 
selected in order to meet the wishes of a 
varied class of patrons, and are now enjoy- 
ing a large trade which returns to them a 
g'"atifying income. 

Surely this era of prosperity is deserved 
by Mr. Lake, for he has had his share of 
hardships and difficulties. His educational 
privileges were extremely limited, he having 
the privilege of attending school for only 
four months after he was eight years of age, 
yet he acf|uired much knowledge of law, and 
now does quite an extensive law business. 
During the first winter he spent in Cleon 
township be did shoe repairing. He had 
ne\er learned the shoemaker's trade, but 
he possessed much natural mechanical in- 
genuity and as there was no shoemaker in 
the district he did much work. 'i"he ob- 
stacles he has encountered have seemed to 
serve as an impetus to renewed effort and 
now he is in possession of a comfortable com- 
petence as the reward of his perse\erance 
and untiring industry. 

Mr. Lake was married, in Manton. Mich- 
igan, to Emma Cornell, a daughter of .\us- 
tin and Julia (Davison) Cornell. Her father 
is now deceased. Mrs. Lake was born in 
.Steuben county. New York, but was reared 
in Wexford county and in January. iS86. 
gave her hand in marriage to .Mr. Lake. 
They have two living children. Raymond 
and I'rban. and they lost a son and ilaugh- 
ter in e-^rl\- childhood. The family have 
a pleasant home in Sherman, celebrated for 
its gracious hospitality. In addition Mr. 



ll'EXFORD COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



351 



Lake owns other village property and several 
hundrd acres of land, and holds large inter- 
ests in several large marble and cla}- beds, 
and is making arrangements for operating 
the same in the near fntnre. His possessions 
are the visible evidence of his life of tire- 
less energ>' and perseverance, his sound judg- 
ment and industry, and his life record should 
?er\'e as a source of encouragement and in- 
spiration to others, showing what can be 
riccomplished when one has the will Ui dure 
and to do and when honoral)le purpose 
guides unfaltering effort. 

Mr. Lake is one of the most public spir- 
ited citizens of the community, as is attested 
by the fact that every enterprise looking 
to the advancement of the interests of the 
village has recci\ed his heart}- support. He 
conceived the idea that a spur line of rail- 
road, running up the river fmm the -\nn 
Arbor line to a point one and one-half miles 
west of the ^•illage, would be a decided in- 
ilucement for factories to locate here. The 
ri\er is \ery crooked at this i)oint and by 
straightening it the old channel could be 
used for the storage of logs. He succeeded 
in his efforts to have the improvement made 
and results have proven the wisdom of his 
judgment, among the new enterprises being- 
one of the largest stave and heading factories 
in the state. Industrial progress at this point 
was so rapid that more railroad facilities 
soon became necessary and he again set 
al)out to meet tb.e demand. He succeeded 
in interesting the Manistee & Northwestern 
Railroad Company and induced them to ex- 
tend their line to this locality. The survey 
for this line is now completed and grading 
has been done to within about four miles. 
When comijleted. whicli will be during the 
present summer (1903), the mad will be 



about fifty-five miles long and will prove in 
many ways a blessing to the section of coun- 
try through which it runs. Mr. Lake now 
has cajiitalists interested and hopes to be able 
to construct a dam across the Manistee river 
at this point (Sherman), which will furnish 
an ine>diaustible power for factories, elec- 
tric light and electric railway. If his success 
in this prox-es to be as fruitful as other enter- 
prises to which his energies have been di- 
rected, it w ill he a great boon to the village 
as well as to a large area of country sur- 
rounding it. He has ne\'er blundered into 
\ictor\, but won lii^ battles in his head lie- 
fore he won them in the field. 



WILLI. \M ROSE. 



There could be written no more ci)m- 
prehensix'e history of a county or of a state 
and its ]ieople than that which deals with 
the life-work of those who by their own en- 
deavor and indomitable energy have placed 
themselves where they well deserve the title 
of both "prominent" and "progressive." In 
this sketch will be fountl the record of a 
citizen of W'exford county whose career has 
been honorable alike to himself and his kin- 
dred and a credit to the community in which 
he laliored and prospered. Born in a for- 
eign land, reared in Canada to manhood, 
the most useful and productive part of his 
entire life has been sjient in the state of 
Michigan, the last twenty-three years of it 
being passed as a resident of Wexford 
county. 

William I^o.se, the sul)ject of this review, 
is the person referred to in the foregoing 
paragraph. He is a native of Scotland, born 



352 



irEXFOKD COUNTY. MICHIGAN. 



in AI)crdeenshire, Octoher i, 1846. The first 
eifjlit years of his Hfe were spent in his na- 
tive land. In 1854 the family emigrated to 
America, settling in Wellington county, On- 
tario, Canada, where they resided until 1865. 
when they came to Michigan and took u\^ 
their residence on the Grand river, in Otta- 
wa county, about fourteen miles west of 
Grand Rapids. The parents of William 
Rose were James and Jane (Davnie) Rose, 
both natives of Scotland. Both are now 
dead, each being about seventy-three years 
of age at the time of their demise, although 
the mother survived the father some ten 
years. They were residents of Allendale, Ot- 
tawa county, at the time of their death. They 
were the parents of eleven children, of whom 
the subject of this review was the third child. 
The subject's education was mainly re- 
ceived in Scotland. On locating in Ottawa 
county he readily secured employment in the 
woods and on the rivers, "driving" logs 
from the camps up in the northern woods 
down the currents of the streams to the 
n)ills where they were to be converted into 
lumber. There are few callings more haz- 
ardous, more laborious or trying ujwn the 
constitution than that which the subject fol- 
lowed for )-ears. Had he not been a man of 
remarkable physical health and strength he 
would have succumljed to the hardships he 
was obliged to endure. In July, 1880, he 
decided to take up farming and devote him- 
self to that vocation. Accordingly he moved 
to Wexford county, purchased eighty acres 
of land in section 4, on the Manistee river, 
in Greenwood township, and ])roceeded to 
prepare it for ;i home. He built a pleasant 
home. clearc<l the greater ]iart of his land 
and resided tlierccm until the spring of 1899, 
when he moved to JManton. Agricultural 



pursuits still occupy the greater part of his 
time. He is the owner of sixty-two acres 
of fine land, all <if which lies within the C(jr- 
porate limits of Manton. -Mure than two- 
thirds of it is clear and under cultivation. 
It is constantly increasing in value and as 
the town spreads onl there is little ilouhf 
that eventually the tract will be laid out into 
lots, each of which will certainly com- 
mand a good price. On the most beautiful 
and sightly part of this tract the subject has 
erected a handsome and substantial resi- 
dence, which is richly and tastefully furnish- 
ed, and this constitutes the family home — 
one of the most pleasant homes to be found 
in all Wexford county. 

William Rose was twice married. His 
lirst wife was Miss Susan Sheridan, a na- 
tive of Ireland, born in 1848. The marriage 
was solemnized .\ugust 6, 1870, at Allendale, 
Ottawa county, ^lichigau. The bride was 
a daughter of Thomas and Susan Sheridan, 
both natives of Ireland. Immediately after 
marriage the young couple took up their res- 
idence on the farm on Grand river, four- 
teen miles from Grand Rapids, where they 
continued to reside until 1880. when they 
moved to Greenwood township. Wexford 
county. Eight children were horn to this 
union, three of whom died in infancy. Those 
living are: Philip S., Daisie S., Colin W., 
Katie \\'. and Gro\-er D. After remaining a 
widower for more than a year, on April _'. 
1896, William Rose was again united in mar- 
riage, his bride on this ocasion being Mrs. 
Chloe J. Winer, a daughter of Elon and Eliz- 
abeth Kingsley and widow of Benjamin J. 
Winer, who died in Little "Rock, Arkan.sas. 
Mrs. Ro^c is a uati\e of Xew ^'ork, born in 
Monroe countv, July _'. 1S31. 

Tiie pcojjle of (.ireen\\ood township have 



lynx FORD COUNTY. MICHIGAN. 



353 



shown their confidence in Mr. Rose's al)ih- 
lies and the regard in whicli lliey huld him 
as a man by electing him. at (hfferent times, 
to every oftice there is in the tnwnshii) ex- 
cept tliat of constable, lie has held the im- 
portant position of county drainage com- 
missioner for a nnniher of years and at the 
present time is serving as a member of the 
board of education at Manton. He has al- 
ways been deejily interested in the pubhc af- 
fairs of not only his township but of the 
county and has contributed much towards its 
growth and development. I'ntil the cam- 
paigii of 1900 he always voted the Demo- 
cratic ticket. Since then. Imwever, he has 
cast his political hit with the Republic:'.n 
partv. believing that the liest interests of the 
country will be subserved by perniiting polit- 
ical power to remain in the liands of that 
partyi In April, 190-'. he was chosen sec- 
retary of the Patrons Mutual h'ire Insurance 
Company for the counties of Wexford, Mis- 
saukee and Osceola. He is also secretary of 
the Wexford County I'omona Grange at 
j\Ianton. There are few men who enjoy 
the confidence, respect and esteem of their 
fellow citizens more implicitly than does 
William Rose. His life has been one of 
strict probity and integrity. He has estab- 
lished a reputation in the county of Wex- 
ford for honesty and truth that is more to 
be ])rize(l than the richest fortune of which 
he could be possessed. 



LEWIS T. 1 RIPP. 



The complexity of business life is con- 
tinuallv increasing and those who arc found 
capable of controlling successfiilly important 



business interests are well worthy of being 
termed "captains of industry." Such a man 
is Lewis J- Tripp, who stands at the head of 
one of the leading industrial interests of 
Wexford county, being the proprietor of the 
Mesick Turning Works, of Mesick, in which 
he employs forty workmen in the manufac- 
ture of broom haudles. 

IMr Tripp is a native son of Michigan, 
his birth ha\'ing occurred in Kalamazoo 
county, on the 26th day of March, 1867. 
His parents are Allen C. and Sarah A. (Kil- 
gore) Tri])p, the former a native of Onon- 
daga county. New "S'ork, and the latter of 
Kalamazoo county. Michigan. They are 
still residing in the latter county and their 
two sons, Josejjb S. and Lewis J., are also 
living, so that the family ciricle yet remains 
unbroken by the band of death. 

Reared under the parental roof, LewisJ. 
Tripp pursued his education in the schools 
of Kalamazoo and in Parsons Business Col- 
lege, of which he is a graduate. On putting- 
aside his text-books he entered upon his 
business career, being at that time seventeen 
years of age. He Iieg.-m bee culture in Pa- 
vilion township. Kalamazoo county, having 
then but one swarm, Init within seven years 
he had increased his a])iary to one hundred 
and t\>rty colonies and his annual sales of 
houev brought to him a good financial re- 
turn. At the end c)f that time he sold his 
apiary for nine hundred dollars and with the 
proceeds of the business he went to Jackson, 
Michigan, where he purchased an interest in 
the bee hive and box factory of W. D. Soper, 
the firm name of W. D. Soper & Company 
being adopted. Mr. rri])p was connected 
v\ ith tlt.at business until a year ;uid a half had 
l)as.sed, when he sold his interest and came 
to Wexford conntv, arriving here in the 



854 



IVEXl-ORD COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



spring of iScp. Here he began the manu- 
factnre of coiled ehn barrel lioops and soon 
afterward added amither department to liis 
Inisiness — tlie manufacture of brdoni lian- 
dles. Su.bsequently he (hscontinued tlie 
manufacture of l)arrel hoops and now gives 
liis entire attention to making broom han- 
dles, liis industry being conducted under the 
name of tlie Mesick Turning Works. This 
lias grown to large proportions, necessitating 
the employment of forty men in the factory 
and he annually turns out six million broom 
handles, his product finding a ready sale on 
the market. He has equipped his factory 
with the latest improved machinery needed 
in his line and now has a large and profit- 
al>le business which adds not a little to the 
commercial activity of the town. 

Jn Jackson, Michigan, on the if)th of 
September, 1891, Mr. Tripp was united in 
marriage to Miss Esther Gee. who was torn 
in ^lonroe county, this state, July 14, 1868. 
a daughter of Luman and Maggie A. Gee. 
Two children have been Ijurn unto Mr. and 
Mrs. Tripp: Oliver .\. and Leo C. j\Ir. 
Tripp is (ine nf the leading Republicans of 
Springville township, believing firmly in the 
])rinciples of his party and doing everything 
in his power to promote its growth and in- 
sure its success. Fraternally he is promi- 
nent, being a valued member of Sherman 
Lodge, Free and Accepted Masons; Sherman 
Gamp Xo. 2240, Modern Woodmen of Amer- 
ica, and Cadillac Lodge No. 680, Benevolent 
Protective Order of Elks. A man of great 
natural ability, his success in business from 
the beginning of his residence in Wexford 
ciiunty has been uniform and rapid. As has 
been truly remarked, after all that maj'^ be 
done for a man in the way of giving him 
early opportunities, he must nevertheless 



essentially formulate, determine and give 
shape to his own character, and this is what 
Mr. Tri])]) has done. He has persevered in 
the pursuit of a ])ersistent purpose and has 
gained a most satisfactory reward, and his 
lousiness methods, being in strict conformity 
to the Iiighest commercial ethics, have gain- 
ed him uniform confidence and resrard. 



CARROLL {•:. MILLER, M. D. 

Among the leading physicians and sur- 
geons of northwestern Michigan the subject 
of this sketch has long held a deservedly 
conspicuous place and his distinguished 
career since locating in Cadillac entitles him 
to honorable mention as one of the rqj- 
resentative jirofessional men of Wexford 
county. The Miller family is an old one 
and its history is traceable to the early 
Puritan settlement of New England, the 
Doctor's ancestors having been among the 
first white men to seek freedom of worship 
on the shores of Massachusetts in 1620. On 
the maternal side the subject's lineage de- 
scends in an unbroken line from the cele- 
brated Maryland family of Carrolls. of 
which Charles Carroll, of Carrollton. one 
of the signers of the Declaration of inde- 
pendence, was perhaps its most distinguished 
representative, rmd there is well established 
proof that that eminent statesman and 
patriot was the Doctor's direct antecedent. 
Dr. Miller's grandfather was a seafaring 
man who commanded a ship wiiich plied 
the waters of many oceans and spent the 
greater part of his life on the waves. 
.\mong his children were two sons. Charles 
Carroll and Jutlson J., Ixjth of whom became 




-.ruf ca^ !.. rh/na-a ajinr .Vy 



Say^^fc g.9r/iM^ 



WEXFORD COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



355 



eminent Baptist divines, the latter liaving 
IaI)orecl in the cities of Worcester and Bos- 
ton. Massacimsetts. for npwards of thirty 
years, (hiring which time lie rose to stations 
of ]3rominence in tlic chnrch and earned 
much more tlian local repute as a scholarly 
and elo(|uent preacher of the Word. Charles 
Carroll Miller was born in Maine and re- 
ceived a liberal education and after his ordi- 
nation as a minister served as a pastor ot 
different churches in the various parts of 
New England, his chief field of labor, how- 
ever, being confined to the state of Massa- 
chusetts. About the year 1853 he came 
to Michigan, and for some time thereafter 
ministered to a congregation in Grand 
Rapids, subsequently holding pastorates in 
Stanton, this state, and Augusta. \\'isconsin. 
He is still actively engaged in the work of 
his holy office. 

Politically Rev. Aliller has long been an 
influential factor in the Rq>ublican party 
and has frequentlj' appeared on the hustings 
in the campaigns of more than ordinary im- 
port, his well-known forensic ability caus- 
ing bis ser\ices to be much sought after by 
party leaders throughout the state. For 
many years he was in close touch with the 
most prominent Republicans of Michigan, 
among w hom was Hon. Zachariah Chandler. 
a man of national repute, between whom and 
himself feelings of the warmest personal 
friendship existed as long' as the f(jrmer 
lived. 

The maiden name of Mrs. Charles Car- 
roll Miller was Miriam C. Dyer, who bore 
him four sons and two daughters, the sub- 
ject of this review being the oldest of the 
family: the others are b'rank, a lawver 
practicing his profession in Montcalm 
county, this state, and has just been elected 



mayor of Stanton for the fourth time; 
Judson, a resident of Cadillac : Rev. Ashley, 
a Baptist minister located in Idaho ; Fanny, 
wife of Frank .\shley. of Big Ra])ids. and 
Jessie. wIk.i is li\ing with her parents. 

Dr. Carroll E. Miller was born I->bruary 
I, 1851. in Portland. Maine, and was a small 
child when his i)arents exchanged their resi- 
dence in New F.nglantl for a home in Grand 
Rapids. Michigan. After attending the 
common and high schools of that city he 
entered the State Agricultural College; at 
Lansing, where he prosecuted his studies un- 
till completing the prescribed course, gradu- 
ating in 1872 with the degree of Bachelor 
of Science. Leaving college, he devoted 
some time to teaching and subsecptently was 
elected superintendent of the public schools 
of Neillsville, Wisconsin, which position he 
held for a period of three years, the mean- 
while establishing' a creditable record as an 
efficient educator and capable manager. 
While a mere youth the Doctor manifested 
a decided preference for the medical pro- 
fession and the laudable ambition to make 
it his life work was e\er uppermost in his 
mind. With this object in \ic\v he prose- 
cuted his educational work and as soon as 
he had accumulated sufficient means he en- 
tered Rush Medical College at Chicago, ilc^ 
paid his way through that institution by 
working in the Times oflrce from two to 
six o'clock every morning, earned an honor- 
able record as a close and critical student, 
and was graduated in 1879 wdth one of the 
highest grades in his class. He was elected 
president of the class, being well ([ualified 
for the course bv reason of a well stored 
niind and a fitness for the duties of the po- 
sition. The same }-ear in which he finished 
his course Dr. Miller opened an office in 



356 



irEXFORD COCXTV, MfCH/G.iX. 



Cadillac and here he has since remained, con- 
ducting a steadily increasing practice, as suc- 
ces?;ful financially as it has been profession- 
ally, and establishing a reputation which, as 
statefl in a preceding paragraph, has won 
him distinctive prestige, not only among 
lending jihysicians of his city and county 
but also among the most distinguished medi- 
cal men in the northwestern part of the state. 
In addition to his large general practice he 
served for some time as United States ex- 
amining surgeon for the pension depart- 
ment, also held the post of assistant surgeon 
for the Grand Rapids & Indiana Railroad, 
and in these responsible positions added ver\' 
materially to his standing in every branch 
of his pnifession. Dr. Miller is one of the 
oldest physicians in Wexford county and to 
say that he is also one of the most success- 
ful is abundantly demonstrated by the uni- 
form advancement which has characterized 
his career from the beginning to the present 
time. He has never ceased to be a student 
and availing himself of every opportunity 
to increase his knowledge and familiarize 
himself with the art of reducing the same 
to practice, he has kept fully abreast the 
times in all things relating to medical science 
and stands today the peer of any of his 
professional brethren in a field where talent 
and skill are recognized at their true value. 
The Doctor is essentially a self-made man, 
as he Ijegan life with no financial help and 
with nothing in the way of social prestige 
or the power of intluential friencLs to stimu- 
late him in his chosen sphere of endeavor. 
As we have already learned he was obliged 
to rely entirely u])on his own resources for 
his jmifcssional training and to this perhaps 
as inuch as to ruiy niher circumstance is 
he indcl)ted for the sturdv self reliance and 



determination to conquer obstacles, which 
are among his most pronounced character- 
istics. He mounted rapidly the ladder of 
success, managed with consummate skill 
that which he early set ab(jut to accomplish, 
and from the modest beginning alluded to 
he has advanced step by step until reaching 
the present proud position he occupies as 
one of the eminent medical men of his day. 
He is 3 member of the State Medical Society, 
in the deliberations of which he has been 
much more than a passing spectator, and 
at one time he was honored by being 
elected a member of the \inth Inter- 
national Medical Congress, which con- 
vened in 1888 in Washington. D. C. Clear 
perception, correct judgment. comprehen-< 
sive thought and stainless honor have 
marked the Doctor's career outside his pro- 
fession and as a citizen, deeply interested in 
everything calculated in any way to promote 
the interests of the community, he is easily 
tlic peer of anv of his fellnw men in the city 
of his residence. 

In the year 1875. at .\ugusta. Wisconsin, 
was solemnized the ceremony by which Dr. 
Miller and Miss Alice Turner, a native of 
Auburn. New York, were united in the 
bonds of wedlock. Mrs. Miller is the daugh- 
ter of Rev. George Turner, a leading minis- 
ter of the .\dvent church, living in the city 
of Chicago, and she has borne her husband 
five children, whose names are De\'ere. 
Jessie, Carroll, Ray. Of the three living chil- 
dren and Miriam. DeVere is a graduate of 
Rush Medical College and is the junior 
member of the firm of Doctors Miller & 
Miller: Jessie is a graduate of 01)erlin Col- 
lege and married H. L. Kdgerton. of 
Sharon. Pa., where she now lives: Carroll 
is a graduate of the Cadillac high scIkk^I 



WEXFORD COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



357 



and is now a student of naval engineering". 
Dr. Miller possesses in a marked degree 
those traits and abilities which mark men 
masters of their own destinies. Clreat in- 
dustry and consecuti\e effort account large- 
ly for the success which has attended him 
and the honors already won bespeak for him 
a long and prosperous future in which lo 
benefit and bless the world by ministering 
to and healing the ills of suffering humanity. 
^Vhile attending closely to his professional 
duties, the Doctor finds time for the con- 
siderafion of public matters and ever since 
locating in Cadillac he has been an active 
participant in the affairs of the cit)'. In 
politics he is a staunch Republican, and as 
such has rendered his party yeoman service, 
having been active in its councils, besides 
serving at different times as a delegate to 
local, district and state conventions. He is 
an ardent friend of education and as a mem- 
ber of the school board of Cadillac labored 
zealously for the schools of the city, doing 
much to bring them up to their present high 
standard of efficiency. He is identified with 
several social and fraternal organizations, 
among which are the Delta Tau Delta, the 
Royal Arcanum and the Knights of Pythias, 
holding the title of past chancellor in the 
last named society. He is also a Mason 
of high standing, having taken a number 
of degrees in that ancient and honorable 
order, including, among others, that of .Sir 
Knight. 



EDWARD G. AfOFFIT. 

Of the many influential families of Wex- 
ford county few have resided there longer, 
made a deeper or more lasting impression 



upiMi the histor\- of the county or wielderl 
more infiuence for good than has the 
Moffit family, t)f Cedar Creek township. It 
is niiw nearly a generalii)n since Edward G. 
]\Ioffit, the suliject of this re\'ie\v, accom- 
panied by the accomplished lady who had 
then only recently become his wife, came to 
the count)- of Wexford to make it his home. 
It was the same year in w hich the county was 
organized (1873) and from that time until 
the present they h;i\e been respected residents 
of the county. 

Edward (r. Moflit is a native of the state 
of Michigan, having been born in Kent coun- 
t\-. Januar\- 3, 1S49. His parents were Eber 
and Xancy (Lindsay) ]\Ioffit, the former be- 
ing a nati\-e of Ohio and the latter of Con- 
necticut. They came to Kent county, Mich- 
igan, in the early days of the settlement of 
the state and continued to be a part of its 
population until their death. He was, at the 
time of his death, about sixty years old and 
sire survived him a number of years, expiring 
when in the seventy-second year of her age. 
Eleven children, nine sons and two daugh- 
ters, were born to them, the subject being 
the fifth child of the family. 

On his father's farm in Kent county, Ed- 
ward G. Moffit was reared and there he re- 
mained until he h;id .ittained the age of 
twenty-two years. He received a fair com- 
mon school education, such as the times and 
the conditions then pre\ailing afforded. 
Feb. 5, 1874, he was united in marriage to 
Miss Almeda Brcjwn, a lady of good educa- 
tion and fine mental endowments. She is a 
native of Ottawa county, Michigan, born 
July 20, 1852, her parents being James M. 
and Diantha L. (Ball) Brown, who were 
natives, the father of New York and the 
mother of Michigan. The father had emi- 



358 



J r EX FORD COUNTY. MICHIGAN. 



grated to Michigan in an early day, locating 
in Ottawa county. They later moved to 
Kent county, u here they continued to reside 
until 1873, when they moved to Wexford 
county and settled in Manton. There j\Ir. 
Brown departed this life, since when his 
widow has made her home on the farm he 
left. He was, at the time of his demise, 
sixty-nine years of age. They were the par- 
ents of two children, the oldest of whom is 
Mrs. Moffit, who was reared in the county of 
her birth to the age of fourteen years, when 
tlic family nin\e(l to Byron township, Kent 
C(punty, where she grew to womanhood and 
where she was united in marriage to the sub- 
ject of this review. Four children were born 
to this union, one of whom, Freddie, died in 
infancy. The other children are : Frank J., 
Claude A. and George S. Frank J. wedded 
Lena G. Boyer, and they have two children. 
Blanche and Beatrice; Claude, who owns a 
forty-acre farm, married Maggie Gibson, and 
George S. is at home and attending school. 

On the removal of the family to \\^ex- 
ford county, in 1873. they located in ilan- 
ton, \\here the subject secured employment 
in a saw-mill, as filer and sawyer. For twen- 
ty years he followed this business at Manton 
and other places and then moved to Kalkas- 
ka, where he remained nine years, then re- 
turned to W'exford count)' and settled in 
Cedar Creek township, on the farm which 
he now owns, occupies and operates. It 
comprises one hundred and twenty acres, 
one hundred of which is cleared and under 
cultivation. It is a fine piece of land, very 
productive and splendidly improved. He is 
a thorough farmer, one who keeps fully 
abreast of the times in all that relates to his 
business. He takes an active interest in all 
matters pertaining to the welfare of his 



township and county, and, in his own modest 
way, has done nuich to advance the interest 
of each. Both Mr. and ^Irs. Moffit are 
thinkers of the advanced school, particularly 
on matters relating to religion, and are firm 
believers in the teachings of Christian 
Science. They became interested in this re- 
ligion in 1S93 and no doctors have been in 
this home for thirteen years. Thej' derive 
great pleasure in the perusal of the writings 
of ilrs. Mary Eddy Baker and they ha\e 
effected many remarkable cures. Mr. and 
Airs. Moffit are respectively first and second 
readers in the Christian Science church at 
Manton. Fie was a member of the Masonic 
fraternity for many years. The high esteem 
in which he is held bears testimony to the 
moral character and substantial worth of the 
man and his life has been so filled with good 
deeds that he finds little to regret in the years 
that are gone. 



WILLIS D. GUERXSEY. 

\\'illis D. Guernsey, who carries on gen- 
eral farming on section 16, Cedar Creek town- 
ship, is a native of the Empire state, his birth 
having occurred upon a farm in Lewis coun- 
ty. New York, on the i ith day of July, 185-I. 
His parents were Alonzo and Lorania (Ham- 
lin) Guernsey, and unto them were born nine 
children, seven sons and two daughters. Wil- 
lis D. Guernsey was the fifth in order of 
birth and was but two years of age when his 
parents left New York, enu"grating west- 
ward to Michigan. They settled in \'an Bu- 
ren county upon a farm and there the sub- 
ject remained with his parents until 1865, 
when the father died. In 1868 he went with 
his mother to Mason county, Michigan, 
where he continued to live for about twelve 



J VEX FORD COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



359 



years ami on the expiration of that period lie 
came to Wexford county, arriving- here in 
llie spring of 1880. 

In the meantime 'Sir. Ciuernsey liad heen 
married in Mount P'leasant, ^Michigan, on the 
19th day of December, 1879, the lady of his 
choice being Miss Ehzabeth Osborne, who 
was born in I.ewis county. New York, on the 
i6th day of June, 1857, a daughter of John 
and JuHa (Parmeter) Osborne, in wliose 
family' were ten children, four sons and six 
daughters, Mrs. Guernsey being the third of 
the family. She spent her early childhood 
days in the state of her nati\ity and was a 
maiden of eleven summers when lier parents 
came to Michigan, setthng in Mason county, 
where she grew to womanhood. The mar- 
riage of Mr. and Mrs. Guernsey has been 
blessed with three children, two sons and a 
daughter : Herman W., of Kidder county, 
North Dakota ; Charles F., who owns a for- 
ty-acre farm in Cedar Creek township, and 
Charlotte M., who wedded Clarence E. Tif- 
fany, of Cedar Creek township. 

W'hen Mr. Guernsey arrived in Wexford 
county he turned his attention to farming and 
was also employed in a saw-mill until the fall 
of 1882, at which time he took up his abode 
upon the farm which is yet his home. He 
has resided here through all the intervening 
years, and this has been a period of marked 
activity and energy in his life. He has 
erected good buildings upon his place and has 
cultivated fifty acres of his eighty-acre tract, 
so that the fields are very arable and return 
to him excellent harvests. He possesses good 
Inisiness ability, sound judgment and strong 
purpose, and upon this sure foundation he 
has builded his success, being the architect of 
his own fortunes. In public afifairs he is 
also deeply interested and has co-operated in 



many measures for the general good. He 
has served as constable of his township for 
many years, and for several years has been a 
member of the board of review of Cedar 
Creek township. His political support is 
given to the Republican party and he keeps 
well informed on the issues of the day, thus 
being able to support his position by intelli- 
gent argument. Fraternally he is connected 
with Ma([ueston Tent No. 220, Knights of 
the Maccabees, and he and his wife are 
affiliated with Rosehill Grange. During al- 
most his entire life Mr. Guernsey has re- 
sided in Michigan and possesses the enter- 
prise so characteristic of this section of the 
country. Brooking no obstacles that could 
be overcome by determination and honorable 
effort, he has steadily progressed on his path 
toward the goal of his success. 



JOSEPH STEWART. 

Joseph Stewart, who resides in Clam 
township, Wexford county, is one of the citi- 
zens of Michigan who have crossed the bor- 
der from the Dominion. He was born in 
the county of Ontario, Canada, on the 15th 
of April, 1 85 1, and is a son of John Stewart, 
who died in that country when more than 
eighty years of age. His mother bore the 
maiden name of Ann Thornell, and, surviv- 
ing her husband for a time, passed away in 
Canada at the very advanced age of eighty- 
five years. They were the parents of eight 
children, of whom Joseph Stewart is the fifth 
in order of birth. 

In the county of his nativity Joseph 
Stewart was reared and the public schools 
afforded him his educational privileges. 



360 



WEXFORD COUNT y, MICHIGAN. 



His training in Ijusiness was received uijon 
ins fatiier's farm, where he early became con- 
\crsant w'nh the practical methols cif ])rc)- 
tlucing good crops and caring for >tocl<. He 
has been connected witli no other occupa- 
tion during liis entire hfe. Entering upon 
his business career in Canada, he there en- 
gaged in farming until his removal to Wex- 
ford county. Michigan, which occurred in 
the spring of 1888. On his arrival liere he 
tiink up his abode upon his present farm in 
("l;im Lake tnwnship. and now he has a \'al- 
uablc ])roperty. which is indicative of his 
careful supervision and enterjjrising spirit. 
He lias erected a very pleasant brick farm 
residence and good barns and ail the other 
necessary outbuildings, and he owns eighty 
acres of land, most of which is cultivated. 
The passerby can see at a glance that the 
owner is a man of practical ideas and that 
neatness and thrift are characteristics of his 
wiirk. 

Ere leaving Canada Mr. Stewart was 
united in marriage, in Ontario county, to 
Miss Esther Xewson, who was born in that 
county, a daughter of William Xewson. of 
Ontario, who is now deceased. Mr. and 
Mrs. Stewart have become the parents of 
four children, of whom the eldest. Anna, is 
now the wife of Thomas Nichols. William 
wedded Miss Mabel Xixon. Eliza is the wife 
of Victor Gurnet, and Ethel is still under the 
l>aternal roof. Mr. Stewart and his family 
are widely and favorably known in the coun- 
ty, having gained many warm friends, who 
hi lid iheni in high regard. 

Mr. Stewart is a member of ihc board of 
reviews in Clam L;ike township. ;md is also 
serving as supervisor of the Hobart school. 
Idealizing the value of education as a prep- 
aration for life's ])ractical duties, the schools 



have ever found in him a warm friend, and 
he has put forth every effort in his power to 
secure good teaciiers and raise the standard 
of education here. He and his wif€ are ear- 
nest, consistent Christians, holding member- 
ship with tiie Baptist church, and their lives 
and inrtuence have been potent factors in its 
growth and progress. Mr. Stewart is deep- 
ly interested in the material, social, intellect- 
ual and moral advancement of his com- 
munity. He has so lived as to command the 
respect and good will of all witJi whom he 
has come in contact, and he is now classed 
among the leachng representatives of agricul- 
tural interests here. In his bu.siness career 
he has placed his dependence, not upon spec- 
ulation or fortunate combination of circum- 
stances, but ui)on perseverance, lalior and 
sound judgment, and u])on these he has 
builded his prosperity. 



GEORGE W. BLUE, 

The sul)ject of biogTaphy yields to no 
other in point of interest and profit. It tells 
of the success and defeats of men. the diffi- 
culties they have encountered, and gives an 
insight into the methods and plans which 
they have pursued. The obvious lessons 
therein taught will prove of great benefit if 
followed, and the example of the self-made 
man should certainly encourage others into 
whose cradle smiling fortune has cast no 
glittering crown to press forward to nobler 
aims and higher ideals. Such a man is 
George W. Blue, subject of this re\iew. and 
in a biogra])hical compendium of Wex- 
ford county's ^progressive and representa- 
tive citizens Iiis name is deserving of 
conspicuous mention. Mr. Blue is one 



WEXFORD COUNTY. MICHIGAN. 



361 



of AIicliigan".s natix'e sons, born in La- 
peer ciinnty, Septenihcr J). 184''). His 
l):!rcnt^. joiiii and Mary (Ilraymer) Blue, 
were earlv settlers of J^apeer county and fig- 
uied prominently in the growth and develop- 
ment I if that part of Michigan. The father 
was a native of New Jersey, the mother of 
Living'ston county, New York. She died in 
Iowa. Iowa, at the age of forty-four years, 
while he lived in Lapeer county, Michigan, 
until he reached the age of sixty-three years, 
when he too passed to his eternal rest. They 
were the parents of a large family of chil- 
dren, of whom the subject of this review was 
the oldest. 

The early life of George W. Blue was 
spent u])on his father's farm in Lapeer coun- 
ty. There he grew to luanhood, attending 
school during the winter months and devot- 
ing the remainder of the time to farm work. 
When he arrived at the age of twenty-one 
years he mo\ed to Iowa, Iowa county, Iowa, 
where he engaged in farming on his own 
behalf and where the next six years of his 
life were spent. Then he tried Kansas for a 
year, Ijut was l)y no means fascinated with 
prevalent conditions in that wind-swept 
region. About this time, 1873, his attai- 
tion was called to the. merits of Wexford 
county, Michigan, as a place of abode and 
the more he in\estigated the better pleased 
was he with the locality. In March, 1874, he 
secured a part of section 32, Liberty towai- 
ship, the identical farm upon which he still 
resides, and prnceedcd to fit it up as a home 
and farm. The tract of land ci insists of one 
hundred and sixtv acres, one hundred of 
which are cleared and splendidly im])roved. 

October i, 1867, in Lapeer county, Mich- 
igan, (leorge W. Blue was united in mar- 
riage to ]Miss Rachael A. Harger, a native of 



Pennsylvania, born March 31, 1848. She is 
the daughter of John and Ellen Maria 
(Carpenter) Harger, and a sister of the 
late Ezra Harger, one of the best known 
and most highly respected men, during- his 
life time, in that section of the state. To 
Mr. and Mrs. George W. Blue four children 
lia\ e been born, viz. : Maynard, Grace, 
Blanche and Gaylard. Grace is the wife of 
George Monger and Blanche is the wife of 
Thomas Stewart. Grace Blue, now Mrs. 
George Monger, was the first white child 
born in Liberty township, Wexford county. 
From the time of his first location in 
Wexford county, now nearly thirty years 
ago, Mr. Blue has identified himself witii the 
interests of the count}-. In pulitics he is a 
pronounced Democrat, and has always act- 
ed with that party, but that has not prevented 
him from being elected to the position of 
supervisor of the township nor barred him 
from re-election a number of times there- 
after. He is an enterprising, public spirited 
man, whose abilities the \otcrs (if his localit\' 
appreciate. One of the very first settlers in 
in the townshi]), he assisted in its organiza- 
tion. The new municipality then had no 
roads — indeed it had little of an\thing other 
than woods and broad, fertile acres. In all 
public improvements to be made Mr. Blue 
was one among the leaders and when he 
was invested with the authority nf an ofii- 
cial, as supervisor, he used all means in 
his power to impro\e conditions in the lo- 
cality. He is a member of IManton Tent 
X'o. 20. Knights of the Maccabees, and of 
the New Era Association, of Grand Rapids. 
He is g-enial, companionable and kind. On 
alnmst rdl subjects he is well infurmed ami 
in legal affairs and complicated business 
transactit)ns his neighbors frequently avail 



362 



U'EXfORD COUXTY, MICIIIGAX. 



ihenisches of his knowledge. He served 
two terms, eiglit years, as justice of tlie 
peace and made one of the most just and 
capable judicial otiicials the township has 
ever known. Domestic in his tastes and as- 
]>irations, his home has always been a most 
ha])j)y one. 



PEKRV ]•■. POWERS. 

Xot only in the field of newspaper enter- 
prises has Hon. Perry F. Powers attained 
high prestige, but also he has gained prec- 
edence in connection with the political 
affairs of the state of Michigan, being at 
the present time incumbent of the ofifice of 
auditdr general i>|' the commonwealth. 
I'"ffecti\e ser\icc in the cause of the Republi- 
can party, no less than recognized eligibil- 
ity, led to his being chosen to this important 
preferment. Pcrrx' !■". Powers is a nali\e 
of that state of which Senator Channcey 
M. l)epew spoke in the following pertinent 
metai)hrase. ".Some men are born great, 
some achieve greatness and some are born 
in Ohio." He was born in the town of 
Jackson. Jackson county, Ohio, on the 5th 
of September, 1858, being a son of Pierce 
and .Sarah C. Powers. Pierce Powers, who 
was also more f.nmiliarlv known as Perry, 
was identified with the iriin-m:uuifactai ing 
industry in snuthern ()hi(i up to the time 
of the (."i\il war, when he entered the ser- 
vice of the L'nion. He received injuries 
which were of such severity as to result 
in his death, and upon the subject of tliis 
review, who was the eldest of four 
chililren — three sons ;md une. daughter — 
n;Uurally devolved nuich of the rcsponsi- 
bilitv in the maintenanco of tlie familv. 



liis niothei surviving until October, i<)02, 
when she passed away at the age of seventy- 
three years. The subject was thrown large- 
ly upon his own resources from his youth, 
but managed to complete a partial course 
in the high school. It may be said, how- 
ever, that Mr. Powers has gained his edu- 
cation , through personal application and 
through active and intimate association with 
men and affairs, while in this connection we 
may consonantly revert to the statement 
made by an aljle v\riter to the eff'ect that 
the ilisciplinc of a newspaper office is 
ef|uivalent to a liljeral education. He was 
inducted into the mysteries of the "art pre- 
.servative of all arts" in a printing office 
in his native town, and in 1879 he went to 
Davenport, hivva, where he secured a po- 
sition as compositor in a newspaper office. 
Jn 1883 he located in. Cambridge, Illinois, 
where he became associated with George 
C. Smithe in the publication of a weekly 
paper, the Chronicle. In 1885 he came to 
^'psilanti, Michigan, and there continued 
in partnership with Mr. Smithe in the 
publication of the \'psilantian, which they 
made one of the representative papers of the 
state. In 1887 Mr. Powers came to 
Cadillac, to become editor and publisher of 
the News and Express, reiiresenting a con- 
solidation of the Cadillac Xevvs. which had 
its inception in 1872, rmd the Mxijress, 
which vv.is established in 1885. Conccrn- 
ir.g his newspaper career in Cadillac we 
can not do better than to quote from an 
article which appeared in the trade paper 
issued by the C'hicago Xew.s])aper Cnion, 
.'i])ropos of his efforts and standing: 
".\mong the makers of .Michigan news- 
papers none is better or more favcjrably 
known than Perrv I". Powers, of Cadillac, 




PERRY F. POWERS. 



Jr EX FORD COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



363 



and his paper, the News and Express, is 
a model weekly, printed with modern equip- 
ment and issued from a model home of 
its own. The paper was born of a con- 
solidation. The Cadillac New-s was estab- 
lished in 1S72, while yet the greater part 
of the present site of the city (then known 
as Clam Lake) was covered with pine 
trees, and the Express was established in 
1885. The two were consolidated in 1887, 
about the time Mr. Powers acquired owner- 
ship of the business. Since then his chief 
ambition has always been to make the News 
and Express the best edited country paper 
in IMichigan. He never permits any hurry 
or rush to prevent the preparation each 
week of from two to three columns of 
original editorial, and the political edi- 
torials of the News and Express are, per- 
liaps, more widely copied and quoted than 
those of any other local paper in the state. 
Neither is time nor effort spared in making 
the report of local affairs complete, and the 
accounts of home happenings are always pre- 
pared in the most readible and entertaining 
manner. Powers is untiring and is con- 
stantly striving in every way to advance the 
interests of his town, to add to home pride, 
helpfulness and contentment and to make 
his own people, as well as the world out- 
side, think that Cadillac is the best city in 
the universe. This line of action, long con- 
linued. has made the News and Express a 
prohtaljle pro])ertv and an influential news- 
|)aner. ^'c)ung Powers was compelled to 
begin work at a \'erv earlv age, to assist 
in the su])port of a widowed mother with 
a familv of three other children. His life 
has been one of hard study and hard work. 
During his residence in Michigan he has 
been twice nominated and elected a mem- 



ber of the Michigan state board of edu- 
cation, was president of the lx)ard four 
years, having been first elected a member 
of the board in 1888 and re-elected in 1894. 
For se\eral years he has been a member of 
the Cadillac city school board, and is very 
prominent in both local and state edu- 
cational circles. He has served one term as 
president of the State Press Association, 
two terms as president of the Michigan Re- 
publican Press Association, and two terms 
as president of the State League of Republi- 
can Clubs. He does considerable campaign 
work on the stump, under the auspices of 
the Republican state central committee, and 
makes many addresses each year on edu- 
cational and kindred topics." 

It may be consistently said that the Re- 
publican party has in Michigan no more 
loyal and stanch a supporter than Mr. 
Powers, and both through his able editorials 
and his efforts as a public speaker he has 
done much to advance the party cause. He 
is a man of broad and exact information, 
a careful student of the questions and issues 
of the hour and ever amply fortified in his 
convictions, being a distinct individual and 
one who has so ordered his course at all 
times as to retain the respect and confidence 
of all who know him and have cognizance 
of his sterling qualities. The party to which 
his allegiance has been thus unequivocally 
given placed him in nomination for the of- 
fice of auditor general of the state in 1900. 
and he was elected by a gratifying majority, 
while his administration has been one re- 
flecting credit u])nn himself an<l the com- 
monwealth. While the duties of his office 
demand his residence in the capital city of 
the state, Lansing, he still retains the general 
sujiervision of his newspaper, dictating its 



864 



IVEXFaRD COUNTY. MICHIGAN. 



policy and remaining inflexibly loyal to his 
home city of Ca<lillac. The News and Ex- 
press is stanchly Republican in politics and 
has the largest circulation of all papers in 
Wexford county. The office is modem and 
model in its equipment, the letter press be- 
ing of the highest standard, while the job 
department has the best of facilities. Were 
all local offices and papers as ably conducted, 
so called "country journalism" would be a 
title of distinction. 

On the 29th of Januar)\ 1889. Mr. 
Powers was united in marriage to Miss 
Jessie R. Warren, who was Ixjrn in Monroe 
county, being a daughter of Cyrus A. and 
Celestia D. Warren, and of this union have 
been born two sons, Warren and Perrv 
F., Jr. 

♦ « » 

GEORGE H. OTIS. 

So long as the history of America is read, 
an interesting chapter will always be that 
regarding the California gold fever, which 
broke out in 1847, reached its crisis in 1849, 
but did not materially abate until the ex- 
citement wrought up by the Civil war almost 
completely overshadowed it. While Cali- 
fornia enriched the world with the gold she 
gave up during that period, the output being 
about thirteen million dollars a year, the 
state may be considered to have had the best 
of the bargain, for the world enriched her 
in population, material development and gen- 
eral improvements. At the time of the first 
discovery the population of San Francisco 
was less than two hundred inhabitants. In 
alxjut ten years it had swelled to more than 
forty thousand people. Nearly every land 
on the face of the globe contril)utcd t() the 



state's growth in ])opulation. People went 
by every known route. Caravans tempted 
Indian malice and cupidity by traveling 
across the continent with o.x teams : other 
fortune hunters sailed to Panama, crossed 
the isthmus, and reached their destination 
by way of the Pacific, while still others sailed 
around Cape Horn, making the trip entirely 
by water. The subject of this review, George 
H. Otis, was only twelve years old when the 
excitement was at its height. He was a 
lad of more strength and manly vigor than 
most youths of his years and he yearned to 
be among the throng crowding westward 
to the new El Dorado. He had to curb his 
impatience, however, for a few years. By 
practicing the most rigid economy, by the 
time he was eighteen years old, in 1855. 
he had accumulated sufficient funds to en- 
able him to gratify the dream of his youth- 
ful years. Making the trip by the Panama 
route, he arrived safely at his destination, 
but, like thousands of others, he found that 
the yellow metal was neither so plentiful or 
as easily gotten as his brilliant imagination 
had pictured it. 

George H. Otis was born in Leoni, Jack- 
son county, Michigan, March 27, 1837. His 
parents were Joseph H. and Laura (McNall) 
Otis, natives of New York, and both now 
deceased. The early years of the subject 
were spent in his native county, where he 
was reared and educated. At the age of 
eighteen years he determined to try his for- 
tune in the gold fields of California. Hav- 
ing tried his luck at mining and finding it 
not nearly so remunerative as he imagined 
it would be. he turned his attention to the 
more prosaic calling of a dairyman and 
picked up more gold in this way than he did 
delving in the mines. .\ good cow is a far 



WEXFORD COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



365 



l)etter wealth producer than a poor gold 
mine. Year after year he followed this call- 
ing until after the breaking out of the Civil 
war, in April, 1862, when he enlisted as a 
private soldier in the First Regiment, Wash- 
ington Territory V'olunteer Jnfantry. The 
field of operations of this regiment was most- 
ly on the frontier. Their chief foe was the 
implacable red man, who knew neither North 
nor South, nor the cause which either repre- 
sented, but embraced the opportunity given 
him by the absence of the regular army in 
the south to glut his hate against every 
species of pale face. George H. Otis spent 
three years in military service, and at the 
close of the war, 1865, he received an hon- 
orable dicharge. 

The years of life on the Pacific coast as 
miner, dairyman and soldier made some 
very material alterations in the views, opin- 
ions and notions of life entertained by Mr. 
Otis. He was no longer the romantic youth, 
but the hardened toiler, the seasoned vet- 
eran, the practical man, when he returned, in 
1865, to his native county of Jackson, Mich- 
igan. After a little rest and recuperation 
after his years of toil, soldiering and his 
long journey from the west, he procured em- 
ployment in the state penitentiary at Lansing, 
as overseer or keeper. He held this position 
for six years, and until he voluntarily re- 
signed it. desiring to engage in a calling 
more agreeable than that of farming. 

In Leoni. Jackson county, Michigan, on 
the 3d day of February, 1869, George H. 
Otis was united in marirage to Miss Adaline 
Tilyou. a native of Michigan, liorn July 17. 
1S42. in Leoni. Jackson county. Her par- 
ents were Carlyle and Harriett (Train) Til- 
you, natives of New York, and both now 
deceased. To Mr. and Mrs. Otis one child 



has been born, a daughter, Hattie E., who 
is at home, and is being educated in the com- 
mon schools. 

In October, 1871, the family moved to 
Wexford county, and settled on eighty acres 
of land, a part of section 22, Selma town- 
ship. They erected a home, cleared and im- 
pro\ed the land, and there they have resided 
up to the present time. Forty acres of the 
original eighty are well improved and under 
cultivation. There is a fine bearing orchard 
upon the place and the land is very pro- 
ductive of any crop suitable for this climate. 

Politically a stanch Republican, there are 
few if any of the local offices in Selma town- 
ship that have not been filled by Mr. Otis. 
He has been the assessor of school district 
No. 6. since it was organized twenty-three 
years ago. He has seen a great deal of the 
world and has profited greatly, both in 
knowledge and material wealth, by- all that 
has been brought under his observation dur- 
ing the course of his long and useful life. 
He is a member of the L'nion Veterans" 
Union. 



JONATHAN W. COBBS. 

Few men in Wexford county were as 
widely and favorably known as was the late 
Jonathan W. Cobbs, of Cadillac. He was one 
of the strong and influential citizens whose 
lives have become an essential part of the 
history of this section of the state and for 
years his name was synonymous with all 
that constituted honorable and upright man- 
hood. Tireless energy, keen perception and 
honesty of purpose, combined with every- 
dav common sense, were, among his chief 
characteristics, and while advancing indi- 



366 



I VEX FORD COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



\iclual success lie also largely promoted the 
material welfare of his coninuuiity. 

Jonathan W. Cobljs was a native son of 
the old Buckeye state, having been born at 
W'estville. Columbiana county, Ohio, on the 
J^tii of February, 1828. He was a son of 
Joseph and Tacy (Walton) Cobbs, the 
former of whom was a cabinetmaker by 
trade. Tliey were both highly respected in 
the community in which they lived, and were 
the parents of nine children, of whom the 
subject was the third in the order of birth. 
Jonathan W. Cobbs passed the early years 
of his life in his native county and when old 
enough was employed as an assistant to his 
father, becoming an adept in wood working. 
Subsequently he learned the trade of wagon- 
making, at which he was engaged until he 
left his native state, going to Butlerville, 
Jennings county. Indiana, where he engaged 
in the lumber business. He there erected a 
saw-mill and was sot)n doing a good busi- 
ness, shipping the products of his mill to 
Cincinnati, Ohio. l-"eeling that in Michigan 
laj- wilier opportunities for a man of energy 
and ambition, he, aliout 1873. ^^"cnt to Grand 
Rapids, where he remained about seventeen 
months, and in April, 1874, he came to 
Cadillac (then called Clam Lake). He was 
thoroughly familiar with the lumbering busi- 
ness in all its details, having owned three 
saw-mills in Jennings and Jackson counties, 
Indiana, and upon coming to Michigan he 
felt that in that line of industry lay the best 
chances for his future success, the accuracy 
of his judgment being proven by his sub- 
sequent careeer. He was one of the first 
men to engage in the lumber business at 
Cadillac and remained actively identified 
with it until within alxjut four years of his 
death, when he gave his interests over into 



the charge of his son, F. J., this move being 
necessitated on account of the precarious 
condition of his health. He had always 
been a strong and vigorous man and had de- 
voted his entire energy to the business in 
which he engaged, the result being a success 
commensurate with the untiring eftorts put 
forth by him. His interests were large and 
in them he took the keenest interest, no 
detail being too trivial to escape his atten- 
tion, this fact probably being the true secret 
of his success. For many years he was 
considered one of the leading lumbering men 
in this part of the state, and bore a conspic- 
uous part in commercial circles in his city. 
On the 29th of March, 1855, at Butler- 
ville, Jennings county, Indiana, Mr. Cobbs 
was united in marriage with Miss Xancy J. 
Preble. She was a native of Olean, Ripley 
county, Indiana, born March 21, 1833, and 
was a daughter of Barnard and Elizabeth 
( Maddox) Preble. Her father was a car- 
penter by occupation and he and his wife 
both died in Jennings county, to which local- 
ity they had removed after the birth of Mrs. 
Cobbs. They were the parents of ten chil- 
dren, of whom Mrs. Cobbs was the third in 
order of birth. To the marriage of the sub- 
ject and his wife were born three children, 
as follows: Tacy M. is the wife of Isaac 
Murphy; Fmma is the wife of Richard \\'. 
Massey ; Isabelle is the wife of H. W. Mc- 
Tklaster and an adopted son, Frank J., who 
is now in control of the lumbering business. 
Few men who have resided in W'e.xford 
county have exerted as wide an intluence in 
material matters and in things aflfccting the 
general welfare of the comnuuiity as did 
Jonathan \V. Col)bs, his support being al- 
ways given to those movements which tend- 
ed to improve the condition of those about 



IVEXFORD COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



367 



him or to make life's burdens lighter for 
those less fortunately situated than himself. 
He won many friends and always retained 
them. His courteous manners, genial dis- 
position and genuine worth earned for him 
the sincere respect even of those who were 
not intimate with him and his death was 'sin- 
cerely mourned by all. 



LEWIS T. \MLSOX. 

Tiie surest, most unerring way of judging 
a man is by the estimate placed upon him by 
the people of the locality in which he has 
lived for years. One or two or even a dozen 
transactions with an individual may disclose 
a very little of his real nature. Even the 
most obtuse, however, of those with whom 
he has associated for a series of years have 
no difficulty in forming a proper estimate of 
his nature. They see him and view him from 
many different situations, at his work, in the 
family circle, at public meetings, in the 
church, in his moments of mirth and enjoy- 
ment, in his days of sorrow and in his periods 
of excitement or anger, with the result that 
they are able to know the man e\en better 
than he knows himself. This being conced- 
ed and Lewis T. Wilson, the subject of this 
review, being judged in the light above indi- 
cated, he is disclosed to be a most worthy and 
capable man. His neighbors and associ- 
ates know what he is and the estimate they 
place upon him is indeed a high one. 

Lewis T. Wilson, who resides on his 
own farm, which is a part of section 31, 
Liberty township, and who is the subject of 
this review, was born in St. Lawrence coun- 
ty. New York, January 6, 1854. His par- 



ents were James and Caroline (Thomas) 
Wilson, he a native of Ireland and 
she of New York. After the birth of 
the subject, the family moved to Onon- 
ilaga county, New York, where they re- 
sided a number of years and in the 
spring of 1877 the family moved to 
Wexford county, Michigan, and settled on a 
farm in Liberty township, where they have 
since continued to reside. They were the 
parents of eleven children, seven sons and 
four daughters, the subject of this review 
being the third child of the family. When a 
lad of only fourteen years Lewis T. Wilson 
bra\-ely faced the world with the firm pur- 
pose of providing for himself thereafter. He 
sought and secured employment in various 
localities in New \'ork, and although young 
in years, he was steady, industrious and pru- 
dent with his money. Lie often visited be- 
neath the parental roof and continued to 
look upon his parents' residence as his home. 
When the family arranged to move to Mich- 
igan he was earnestly solicited by his par- 
ents, brothers and sisters not to remain be- 
hind. He acceded to their wishes and made 
one of the party that came from New York 
that year to swell the population of Wexford 
county and win from fate a better fortune 
than they had yet known. In Michigan, as 
in New York, he devoted himself to farming. 
In Eaton county, Michigan, October 5. 
188 [, Lewis T. Wilson was united in mar- 
riage to Miss Flora Hall, a native of New 
"!»^ork, born in Orleans county, October 5, 
1S60. She is a daughter of William and 
Clarissa Llall, who moved to Michigan and 
settled in Eaton county in 1863. The father 
died at the age of fifty-six years, while the 
mother still survives. They were the parents 
of eight children, Mrs. Wilson being the el- 



IV EX FORD COUNTY. MICHIGAN. 



dcst cliild of tlie family. Ininiediately after 
marriage Mr. and Mrs. Wilson established 
themselves on a farm, a part of section 31. 
Liberty township, which they have made 
their home continually since that time. The 
farm consists of forty-six acres, nearly all 
clear and well improved. They are the par- 
ents of ten children, two of whom died in 
early life. Those living are; Herljert L., 
Ethel F., Clara M., Ariel E., Cebert D., 
Lulu AL, Mildred E. and W'allace H. The 
children are all possessed of much mental 
ability and in their studies at school have 
shown an aptitude for knowledge far above 
that of the average pupil. 

Lewis T. Wilson has always shown a 
keen interest in public afifairs. The improve- 
ment and development of the township in 
which he resides absorbs much of his atten- 
tion and e\ery public enterprise receives his 
most hearty encouragement. He has been 
honored by the jjeople of his township with 
the office of treasurer and he served a num- 
ber of terms as school director. His charac- 
ter is above reproach and no man stands 
higher in the community than he does. 

JOHN T. PARKER. 

Successful farming is an art not ac- 
quired alone from the reading of books, al- 
though agricultural literature will always 
prove to be a most valuable auxiliary in the 
hands of the rellecting and experimenting 
tiller of the soil. The great book of nature 
is, however, the alpha and omega of the 
wise farmer's true literature, and the lessons 
therein studied impart the knowledge which 
leads to trium])hant mastery of this oldest 
of all industries. John T. Parker, the sub- 
ject of this review, is one who had the good 



fortune of early studying and practicing the 
art of agriculture in such a manner as to 
secure substantial and permanent results and 
the story of his modest career is well worthy 
of perusal. 

John T. Parker, a resident of section 6, 
Selma township, is a native of the state of 
Michigan, born in Sanilac county, September 
6, 1858. His parents were Thomas and 
Rosana (Surbrook) Parker, who were the 
parents of seven children, of whom the sub- 
ject of this sketch was the fifth. The mother 
died in 1867, when the subject was only nine 
years of age, while the father resides in 
Sanilac county, and is a farmer, being in 
politics a Republican. 

In his native county of Sanilac John T. 
Parker was reared and educated in the com- 
mon schools imtil he reached the age of sev- 
enteen years. By that time he had become 
very conversant with farm labor and was 
considered a good agriculturist himself. \n 
those days the terms of school each year 
were short and the seasons of labor on the 
farm long, so that while he gained a fair 
knowledge of books, he acquired much more 
of plowing, harrowing, sowing, planting, 
reaping and harvesting. He was a prudent, 
provident youth and, combining these very 
desirable qualities with industry, he early 
gave promise of the success which he has 
since attained. 

In the autumn of 1876, when barely 
eighteen years old, with a comfortable little 
Sinn of money in his pocket, he came to 
Wexford county antl secured eni])l()ymcnt 
for the fall and winter, while looking for a 
desirable investment. In the early spring 
he found a good forty-acre tract of land 
that was for sale and bought it, it being 
located in section 18. Selma township, .\fter 



IVEXl'ORD COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



369 



making some improvements, lie sold it at a 
nice margin of profit, and immediately pur- 
chased a tract of land in section 6, same 
township, erected a modest .home, made 
some other improvements, and lived there 
two years, when he disposed of it also. 

About this time Mr. Parker became im- 
pressed with the notion that while the real- 
estate business was profitable, it necessitated 
too many removals. He therefore decided 
to get out of it, by buying a place that suited 
him and holding it at such a figure that no 
one would care to buy. Accordingly he pur- 
chased forty acres in Boon township and 
later another forty-acre tract across the line 
in section 6, Selma township, where he es- 
tablished his home and where he has since 
resided. This eighty-acre farm he has splen- 
didly improved, seventy acres have been 
cleared and are in a most desirable state of 
cultivation. Good buildings have been 
erected and the place has been supplied with 
every appurtenance necessary for good farm- 
ing. 

July 29, 1878, in Selma township, John 
T. Parker was united in marriage to Miss 
Charlotte L. Frank, a native of New York, 
born in Erie county, July 28, 1862. Her 
parents were Levi antl Marietta (Michael) 
Frank, both natives of the Empire state, and 
both are deceased. To John T. and Char- 
lotte L. Parker five children have been born. 
One son, Owen F., died when about two 
years old, and the living children are Thomas 
11., Lulu J.. Ernia E. and Reba M. 

The life of John T. Parker has been too 
busy a one to give him either time or inclina- 
tion to dabble in politics. He has given to 
politics, therefore, all that good citizenship 
required of him and no more. He served 
Selma township as highway conimissioner a 



number of years, and, being deeply interested 
in the cause of education, he consented to 
serve as school moderator and performed 
the duties of the office very acceptably sev- 
eral terms. The only fraternal order to 
which he belongs is the Odd Fellows, be- 
longing to Harrietta Lodge No. 186. He 
is a thorough farmer and most capable busi- 
iiess man, and because of his many fine per- 
sonal qualifications has won the regard and 
esteem of a large circle of acquaintances. 



ROBERT ^L W'ADDELL. 

Robert ]\L Waddell was l)orn in North 
Manchester, Indiana, on the 25th day of 
September, 1874, twenty -nine years ago. 
His father is Charles Waddell, a practicing 
]3hysician in North Judson, Indiana, and a 
veteran of the Civil war. His mother, who 
died in 1879, was a member of the Ohio 
Hosmer family. During the time the sub- 
ject of this sketch was acquiring his educa- 
tion he became interested in newspaper mak- 
ing, and for fifteen years has been connected 
in various capacities with a half dozen news- 
papers in Indiana and in Michigan. Mr. 
Waddell came to Cadillac in the fall of 1898 
to accept a position in the editorial and busi- 
ness departments of the Cadillac News and 
Express and the Cadillac Daily News, Perry 
F. Powers' two newspapers, and has since 
remained with Mr. Powers. Mr. Waddell 
was married in 1895, in La Grange, Indiana, 
to Miss Bradford, a daughter of Captain and 
Mrs. Samuel P. Bradford. Captain Brad- 
ford served nearly five years as a soldier 
in the Civil war, was a lawyer, and for 
eight years was clerk of the La Grange cir- 



370 



WEXFORD COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



cuit court. He died in 1890. Mrs. Wadtlell 
was educated in the La Grange schools and 
in St. Mary's of the Notre Dame University, 
near South Bend, Indiana, and in the West- 
minster Academy in Fort Wayne, Indiana. 
Mr. and Mrs. W^addell are the parents of one 
hving daughter, Ruth, who was horn on tlie 
3d of June, 1902. 



AUSTIN W. MITCHELL. 

The well known family of which the 
subject of this re\iew was an honored 
representative, has been identified with the 
history of Michigan in different capacities 
since the early settlement of the state, the 
name appearing in connection with the 
material growth and development of vari- 
ous localities in which the Mitchells figifred 
prominently as pi(jneers. The descendants 
of the original settlers have lieen active in 
carrying forward the work so auspiciously 
begun by the latter anil for a number of 
years no name has been more prominent in 
l)usiness and industrial circles, or more 
actively identified with the material pros- 
perity of the different parts of the com- 
monwealth in which, for several generations, 
it lias been so well and familiarly known. 
Conspicuous among the representatives of 
this old and highly esteemetl family was 
the late Austin W. Mitchell, of Cadillac, 
a man of strong mentality, sound judgment, 
ripe business experience and deep human 
sympathies, whose untimely death, about 
one year ago, under jjcculiar and distress- 
ing circumslances, while on his way to 
Japan, caused a cloud of sadness to settle 
over Cadillac and bring sorrow to every 



home in the city. Mr. Mitchell was torn 
in Hillsdale, Michigan. July 5, 1852. the 
son of Charles T. and Harriet S. (Wing) 
Mitchell, the latter a daughter of Hon. 
Austin K. Wing, a pioneer settler of the 
city of Mfjuroe. and one of the state's first 
representatives in the lower house of the 
national congress. 

Blessed with the best of home training 
and favored with exceptional advantages 
for intellectual improvement, young Mitch- 
ell, after completing the usual grade-school 
course, was graduated from the high school 
of his native city and in 1870 entered the 
L'ni\'ersity of Michigan where he prose- 
cuted his dutties for a period of two years. 
Leaving the latter institution after finishing 
the .sophomore year, he was appointed 
deputy collector of internal revenue for the 
third district by Harvey B. Rowlson, in 
which capacity he served until 1875. when 
he resigned his position and for several 
years thereafter devoted his attention to the 
lumber business in Hillsdale. 

In 1879 Mr. Mitchell bought a section 
of pine land in Cedar Creek township. 
Wexford county, and in ]\larch of the fol- 
lowing year began the manufacture of lum- 
l)er at Bond's mill, continuing the business 
for four years, the meantime, 1882, becom- 
ing senior member of the firm of Mitchell 
Brothers, which, untler his capable direction 
and able management, attained a growth 
^nd importance second to no similar enter- 
])rise in the northwestern part of the state. 
The initial movement of the firm was the 
purchase of fifty million feet of timber at 
Jennings. Missaukee cciunt\'. .'uiil llic crccliim 
of a mill in that town, and in addition to 
this and subse(|uent operations in the 
general lumber business the subject became 




/z<u^ 




Qyi^c^ Ji^t/£^^^ii^ 



WEXFORD COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



371 



interested in tlie Cadillac Handle Factory, 
besides buying- with his brother an exten- 
sive tract 1)1" \alnable timber in Xew Mexico. 
Mr. Mitchell's business experience, which 
extended over a period of twenty years, was 
eminently successful, as is attested by the 
fact that during- that time he not only earned 
for the large enterprise of which he was 
the head a wide reputation in commercial 
and industrial circles, but accumulated a 
private fortune second in magnitude to few 
if any in this section of the state. For a num- 
ber of years he devoted his attention exclu- 
snely to i)ine lumber, but in 1893 the firm 
began the niainifacturing of maple flooring, 
which soon grew in magnitude and impor- 
tance, necessitating a gradual enlargement 
of the n-iilling- facilities until in due season 
their plant covered an area of three acres of 
ground, being eight hundred feet long, two 
hundred feet wide and as well an equipped 
n-iill for the manufacture of polished floor- 
ing as there is in the United States. In con- 
nection with these various lumber interests 
the firm also constructed many miles of log- 
ging railroad for the purpose of supplying 
their mill with logs, the supervision of the 
business and the managen-ient of its different 
departments falling almost entirely upon the 
shoulders of the senior member of the 
con-ipany. 

Mr. Mitchell ever manifested a pardon- 
alile pride in the growth and material de- 
velopment of Cadillac and as long as he 
lived in the city was an influential factor in 
all of its aft'airs. He served five or six 
years as alderman and in that capacity was 
instrumental in the interests of the nninic- 
ipality iti many ways, standing at all tunes 
for progress and imi)rovement and provmg 
a careful, painstaking and capable public 



servant, his ofticial service throughout lie- 
ing highly creditable to himself and to the 
people to whon-i he so faithfully and effi- 
ciently served. At the expiration of his last 
term in the city council he was made a mem- 
ber of the board of education, which position 
he held by successive re-elections for a 
number of years, his labors as chairman of 
the committee on teachers being influential 
in bringing the school system up to the 
standard for which it has ever since been 
noted. 

Mr. Mitchell was united in marriage 
with Miss Bertha Spaulding of Greenville, 
Michigan, the union being blessed with two 
offspring, Marian and DeWitt C, who 
with their mother are still living in San 
Diego, California. By reason of failing 
health, the result of long-continued hard 
work and over exertions, Mr. Mitchell iti 
1900 retired temporarily from the manage- 
ment of the Mitchell Brothers lumber 
operations and sought the rest and recreation 
of wdiich he had so long stood in such 
imperati\-e need. After spending several 
months in his boyhood home in Flillsdale, 
he joined his family in San Diego, Cali- 
fornia, Init the climate of the Pacific coast 
not i^roducing the desired results, it w^as de- 
cided three or four months later that he 
should take an ocean voyage. Dr. Carroll 
E. Miller, his family physician, accompanied 
him from San Francisco and on the 9th of 
-\ngust, 1902, they took passage at the latter 
city for Honolulu, the beginning of a con- 
templated tour of the w-orld. 

All of ^Ir. Mitchell's active life was 
closely devoted to his business in its various 
caiKicities .-uid iluriiig a long period of .-icliye 
endeavor he attained enviable distinction in 
the world of affairs, while his whole- 



872 



WEXFORD COUNTY. MICHIGAN. 



licartedness and eminent social qualities 
made him a friend to all with whom he had 
business or other relations. In his life he 
was the very embodiment of enterprise and 
enthusiastic optimism and in addition to 
pushing all his own undertakings to suc- 
cessful completion he gave a willing and 
hearty support to every mo\ement having 
for its object the material or social advance- 
ment of the community. Personally he was 
of attractive appearance and pleasing ad- 
dress, a fine specimen of symmetrically de 
\ eloped American manhood, and he moved 
among his fellows as one torn to leadership 
and who always made his presence felt in 
whatever capacity his abilities were exer- 
cised. He loved to mingle with his fellow 
men, regardless of calling, and was ever the 
faithful friend and genial companion of all 
classes and conditions of people. His was 
a proud, liberal mind, optimistic in all the 
term implies, but exclusive in the sense that 
nothing savoring in the slightest degree of 
insincerity, hypocrisy or cant could for a 
moment find lodgement therein. He was 
truly a manly man, best liked by those who 
knew him most intimately, and, like a ray 
of sunshine, he often illuminated and made 
bright the pathway of those into whose 
lives fortune cast no glittering favors. 

We close this brief review of Mr. 
Mitchell by quoting from the News and Ex- 
press the following appropriate reference to 
his life and character, published upon the 
receipt in Cadillac of the sad news of his 
death : 

"In Cadillac there is sincere sorrow be- 
cause of the tragic ending of the life of Mr. 
Mitchell. During bis twenty years of 
active ])articipation in the affairs of the city, 
both as a business man and public official. 



his ideals were high, his purposes honest 
and his plans were for the benefit of his 
fellow men. He labored zealously not only 
for himself and his family, but also for his 
employes, his neighbors and his friends. He 
gave of his wealth to the poor and the needy 
and «as a willing helper in all public affairs. 
He listened not only to the recital of am- 
bitious plans of those in high places, but to 
the cry of the lowly, of the widow and the 
orphan and of those to whom sorrow, 
affliction and poverty had come he gave 
heed. Unostentatious in his charities, un- 
assuming in his relations with men, Austin 
W. Mitchell made for himself an enduring 
]:)lace in the affairs of the jieople and in 
nearly every home in Cadillac the sadden- 
ing message from Honolulu carried with 
it a feeling of personal loss. Through the 
coming changing years, the memory of the 
man who sleeps beneath the turbulent waters 
of the Pacific will be revered by his neigh- 
bors and associates and his most enduring 
monument will be his good deeds." 



JO.SHL'A M. WARDELL, M. D. 

The popular physician and surgeon 
whose life story is brefiy outlined in this re- 
view has attained an enviable position in the 
medical world, gaining the distinguished 
ruputation which comes as the legitimate 
reward of rigid mental discipline through 
professional training and skill and persist- 
ent, painstaking endeavor. Progressive in 
the broadest sense of the term and keeping 
in close touch with all matters relating to 
liis chosen calling, his understanding, ad- 
vanced methods and efficient practice have 



J VEX FORD COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



873 



brought liiiii not duIv eminent professional 
success, l)ut lilierril financinl remuneration 
as well. During' a residence of over thirty 
years in the cily of Cadillac he has witnessed 
the remarkable growth and development of 
Wexford county along- all lines of industrial, 
commercial and professional activity and to 
the extent of his ability he has contributed 
to bring about the results that are now ob- 
tained. His character has ever been above 
reproach, his conduct in e\'ery relati(3n of 
life has been that of the faithful healer, the 
upright man, the honorable citizen and to- 
day there are few as well known and none 
stand higher than he in the confidence and 
esteem of the people. In point of residence 
and continuous service, he is the oldest phy- 
sician in Cadillac, as well as one of the most 
successful. 

Dr. W'ardell is a native of Ontario, Can- 
ada, and was born on a farm near St. 
Thomas, Elgin county, July 26, 1855. When 
seven years of age his parents, Edward and 
Melissa (McDween) Wardell, moved to the 
above village and there the future physician 
received his literary education, completing 
the high school course in 1867, immediately 
after which he made choice of medicine as 
his life work, and began his preliminary 
stu(h' of the same under the direction oi his 
uncle. Dr. J. M. Penwarden, while clerking 
in the latter's drug store in St. Thomas. Dr. 
I'enw arden was a ])hysician of considerable 
note, who i)raciiced for some years in part- 
nership with Dr. John l-'ulton, at that time 
professor of surgery in Trinity College, To- 
ronto, and dean of the faculty. While at- 
tending to his duties in the store young 
Wardell devoted all bis leisure time to study 
and under the eH'icient instruction of his 
uncle he made rapid and substantial progress^ 



his advantages being far superior to those 
of the majority of students at the beginning 
of their career. After two years behind the 
counter his entire time was given to his 
medical reading, and at the end of one year 
of painstaking research he entered the med- 
ical department of Michigan University, 
where he remained until the fall of 1870, 
returning to Canada at the end of the session 
and again taking up his work with his form- 
er preceptor. He continued his studies at 
home and in Toronto until the fall of 1872, 
when he returned to Ann Arbor, and on the 
26th day of the ensuing March was grad- 
uated at the early age of eighteen, being one 
of the youngest persons to receive the degree 
of Doctor of Medicine from the University 
of Michigan. 

On the 7th of September following his 
graduation Dr. Wardell opened an oflice in 
Cadillac and at once engaged actively in 
the practice of his profession, encountering 
at the outset many of the obstacles and em- 
barassments which usually beset the path- 
way of young physicians ambitious for pro- 
fessional honors. In due time, however, his 
abilities were recognized and he soon suc- 
ceeded in building up a lucrative practice 
which, taking a wide range and covering ev- 
ery branch of the profession, has steadily 
grown in magnitude to the present day. In 
1876 he was appointed division surgeon of 
the Grand Rapids & Indiana Railroad, which 
position he still holds, and he also served 
four years as a member of the Ijoard of 
pension examiners at Reed City, ]\lichigan, 
performing capable and satisfactory service 
in both capacities. 

As a physician and surgeon Dr. Wardell 
has few equals and no superior in the Grand 
'i^-averse region. He is thoroughly in- 



874 



WEXFORD COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



formed in all branches of his profession, 
makes (liagiK)sis readily, has had a long, 
varied and remarkably successful experience 
and the extensive practice he now commands 
affords the best evidence of the high esteem 
in which he is held by the public. In his pro- 
fessional duties and in social life he sustains 
an admirable character and in his business 
affairs have demonstrated shrewdness and 
capability, having by close attention to his 
chosen calling accumulated a sufficiency of 
this world's goods to place him in indepen- 
dent circumstances. In the language of an- 
other. "The Doctor is a broad-gauged, lib- 
eral-minded man, conversant with life in 
all its bearings and thoroughly in harmony 
with the spirit of the present progressive 
age." "Since boyhood he has had to de- 
pend entirely u]3on his own exertions, but, 
with a determination to succeed, he worked 
earnestly and constantly and now, while yet 
in the prime of life, he can rest free from 
care and anxiety with the consciousness that 
his present ])rosperity is due to industry and 
ability." 

Dr. W'ardell is a close and diligent stu- 
dent, a critical reader of the world's best lit- 
erature and his acquaintance with the same 
is general and profound. For a number of 
years he has made a special study of Shakes- 
peare, and his deep research into the writings 
of that immortal genius has made him one 
of the best Shakespearian scholars in this 
country. He has examined critically every 
thing relating to the subject, is familiar with 
the ideas of Shakespearian scholars the world 
o\er and his own observations, opinions and 
conclusions have elicited the attention and 
praise of some of the best writers and critics 
of the day. 

Fraternallv the Doctor is a thirtv-second- 



degree Mason and his political views are in 
accord with the Republican party, of which 
he has for years been an earnest and en- 
thusiastic supporter. His domestic life dates 
from 1890, on July 21st of which year he 
was happily married to Miss Arista M. 
Montgomery, a native of Oberlin, Ohio, 
and a lady of refined tastes and liberal cul- 
ture, who has borne him two children, a son 
by the name of Montgomery Meaure, and a 
daughter, Margaret. The Doctor is pecul- 
iarly blessed in his domestic relations and in 
his beautiful home, one of the finest resi- 
dences in the city of Cadillac, finds in the 
bosom of his family or in the company of 
the wise and great of all ages through the 
medium of his well-stocked librar}' the social 
relaxation and mental stimulus which only 
men of his tastes and inclinations fully appre- 
ciate. His life has been lived to useful ends 
and his high ideals, professional and other- 
wise, ha\e made him in no small degree a 
leader of thought in the community. He 
maintains a li\ely interest in Cadillac, has 
taken an active part in promoting its ma- 
terial development, and, having faith in the 
city's future, is doing all within his power 
to make that future come up to his high ex- 
pectations. 



DOXALD DA\TDSOX. 

The man who has lived to the age of 
fifty-eight years, who has spent a part of the 
years of his maturity in two hemis])heres and 
whose life from boyhoofl has been character- 
ized by hard work, has surely had sufficient 
experience to gratify the desire of the most 
ambitious seekers of adventure in the line 
of industry. Donald Davidson, the subject 



WEXFORD COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



375 



of this biography, who resides in Colfax 
township, was l)orn, reared and received his 
education in Scotland. When oKl enough 
and possessed of the re(iuisilc strength he 
was put into the coal and iron mines of his 
native land, and for ten years followed that 
most exacting and tiresome calling, mining. 
.A^mbitious far beyond his fellow workmen, 
he determined that if the blessings of health 
and strength remained to him all the years 
of his life would not be spent benath the sur- 
face of the earth at the paltry wages accord- 
ed to miners in Great Britain and elsewhere. 
When he had been in the mines ten years 
and saved some money, he went to farming, 
and after pursuing that avocation a few 
years came to America to better his condition 
and that of his faniily. 

Donald Davidson was born in Perth, 
Scotland, in 1843. His opportunities for re- 
ceiving an education were indeed limited, 
for he was placed to work in the mines quite 
early in life. From that time to the present 
hard work has been his portion, but he bore 
his part with all the stoicism of a philoso- 
pher and abided his time until an opportun- 
ity ofifered to better his condition. When 
about seventeen years of age Mr. Davidson 
was united in marriage to Miss Catharine 
Hepburne, in Scotland, the native place of 
both, and there they continued to reside for 
a number of years thereafter, he having 
quit the mines and devoted himself to farm- 
ing. Two children were born to them, Dav- 
id and Christena, and their coming inspired 
the father with renewed ambition. lie knew 
what his life had been, replete with hard 
work and many privations, and he deter- 
mined that his children should never experi- 
ence such vicissitudes as had fallen to his 
lot. Accordingly, having accumulated suffi- 



cient means for the purpose, he procured 
transportation and the family set out for 
.America in March, 1873. After arriving 
in this country, they took up their abode 
in Virginia, but remained there only a few 
months, when they came to Michigan, locat- 
ed in Cadillac, then Clam Lake, where they 
li\ed for two years, he Ijeing employed by 
Green & Sheckston, lumber mills. From 
there they moxed to Manton, where he was 
employed, and after two years of industry 
and the practice of most commendable econ- 
omy, he was enabled to purchase the land 
he now owns. There he then settled, but re- 
mained only one season, when he was in- 
duced by Charles Ford to move to Haring 
township and cultivate a well-improved farm 
wliich was owned tliere by him. The sub- 
ject remained on the I'ortl farm six years, 
and so successfully managed that piece of 
land that he was tendered the position of 
superintendent and manager of the county 
poor farm, which he accepted, but remained 
in charge only about fourteen months. He 
then returned to his own farm and has de- 
voted himself to its cultivation from that 
time to the present. He is the owner of 
forty acres of land, of which he has thirty- 
five acres under cultivation, and very pro- 
ductive. Both his children are comfortably 
settled in life. David, who is a farmer and 
resident of Colfax township, married Miss 
Lucinda McLean, and they have three chil- 
dren, Mildred, Vera and Verna, while Chris- 
tina is the wife of Perry Leach, and resides 
in Wexford county, he being engaged in 
lumljering, and they have one child, Zena. 
Air. Davidson is. like most of his country- 
men, a person of the utmost candor and 
sincere frankness, a man who woukl en- 
counter much for his friends and whose 



876 



WEXFORD COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



memory is never so tlefective as to forget 
favors extended to him. Wexford county 
was greatly benefited by iiis coming and 
that of his excellent family. Mrs. Davidson 
is a devout member of the Free Methodist 
church in Colfax township, and is a teacher 
in the Sabbath school. 



WILLIAM W. LO\"ELESS. 

The life of a sailor on the (heat Lakes 
is a laborious and hazardous one, and yet 
one that is not entirely devoid of fascination. 
Men who have sailed for a number of years 
find it exceedingly difficult to content them- 
selves on land and although their oppor- 
tunities for advancement upon the water are 
as nothing to what they might encounter 
on shore, their lo\-e for the fathomless lake 
or ocean often compels them to sacrifice 
every other consideration for its sake. The 
subject of this review, William W. Loveless, 
followed the life of a sailor a number of 
years in his early manhood, and like others, 
after having given it up, he often yearned 
for the old life upon the stormy wave. How- 
ever, he seems now to have thoroughly 
weaned himself from the enticing calling. 

William W. Loveless, a resident of sec- 
tion 19, LLaring township, was born in Essex 
county, Canada, of Canadian parents, April 
22, 1837. He was reared and grew to man- 
hood in his native county, receiving a fair 
education in the common branches at the 
public schools. While yet a young man he 
became a sailnr. on a shi]) engaged in the 
grain trade plying between Uiiff.ili) and 
Chicago, and for seven years devoted himself 
exclusively to that calling. In iSd^ he 



took a position on a ship laden with copper 
ore and bound for Liverpool. The passage 
of the .\tlantic was made by this staunch 
little craft in forty-eight days, the vessel be- 
ing propelled entirely by sail. 

In Ogle county, Illinois. August 10, 
1859. \\ illiani W . Lo\eless was married to 
I^achael .\. \\ inner, a native of Pennsyl- 
\';niia. born .Septcml)cr 14, 1837. To this 
union ten children were born. \iz. : Walter 
S., Wallace E. Williard W.. Wilton W., 
Wesley W., Sarah E., William W. W.. Vio- 
let, Dais}-, and E\-angelme, who died aged 
three years and seven months. Sarah E. 
died at the age of thirteen years, Violet is 
the wife of Ernest Schram and Daisy died 
in her twenty-fourth year. August 7, 1S81, 
when forty-one years of age, Mrs. Loveless 
died at the fann'ly home in Haring township, 
whence they had removed three years pre- 
viously. 

In the spring of 1878, desiring to better 
the fortunes of the family, William W. Love- 
less came to Wexfonl county and settled 
on a tract of land, part of section 19, Haring 
tow'nship. Here he erected a modest but 
comfortable residence, and after installing 
his family therein proceeded to hew a farm 
out of the dense woods. How well he has 
succeeded is clearly demonstrated by the 
tidy, well-kept little farm of forty-eight acres 
which year after year he has been cultivat- 
ing at a comfortable profit. 

In Wexfonl county, on the 23d day of 
J;nniary. 1884, William W. Loveless again 
entered into a matrimonial alliance, his bride 
on this occasion being Mrs. Margaret Gib- 
son, w'idow of the late William (libson. She 
is a native of Canada, born in \'ictoria coun- 
t\. Ont.irio. in October. 1837. Her maiden 
name was Margaret Shearer and she is a 



IV EX FORD COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



877 



(laugliter (if Rc>l)ert and Janet Shearer, na- 
tives of Scotland. One child has been adopt- 
ed liy the sul^ject and his wife, an intelli- 
gent, winsome little girl named May. 

In politics William W. Loveless is a 
Democrat and has always interested himself 
in the success of that party. He has served 
his township in various local offices. He has 
lieen a school director a numljer of years, 
township treasurer two years, justice of the 
peace four years, and township clerk one 
term. In all matters relating to the welfare 
of the township he has taken an active inter- 
est. He and wife are members of the Bap- 
tist church and always active in every spe- 
cies of religious work. He is a member ui 
Cadillac Tent, No. t,^^2. Knights of the Alac- 
aljees, of the Loyal Orange lodge at his home 
in Canada and of the Patrons of Husbandry 
of Wexford county. He began life with 
little, and whatever he has accomplished is 
attribut.'ible entirelv to his own exertions. 



ANDREW HOLMEERG. 

The substantial development and con- 
tinued progress of the states in the northern 
part of the Mississippi valley owe not a little 
of their growth to the efforts of the sons of 
Sweden who have sought homes here. To 
this class Andrew Holmberg is a representa- 
tive. He now lives on section 28, Clam Lake 
township, where he is engaged in general 
farming. He was born in Sweden on the 
19th of April, 1848, and there spent the first 
twenty- four years of his life. In his youth 
he acquired a fair education and when cjuite 
young he learned the value of industry and 
perseverance as acti\e factors in a imsiness 



career. These have ever been salient features 
in his work and have formed the foundation 
upon which he has builded his prosperity. 
In the spring of 1872, attracted by the op- 
portunities of the new world, he made ar- 
rangements for lea\ing his native country, 
and, bidding goodbye to his friends there, 
he sailed for the new world, landing first at 
Quebec, Canada. He did not tarry in the 
Dominion, however, Init came at once to 
Michigan and has since been a resident of 
Wexford county. Here he was first em- 
ployed through one summer in the grading 
of the Grand Rapids & Indiana Railroad, 
and subsecpiently he was employed as .a 
section hand. For many years he was fore- 
man of a gang of men, working on the 
railroad, and continued his labors in that 
way until July, 1898, when he settled upon 
the farm which is now his home and which 
he had previously purchased. He has erected 
a nice residence here and in the rear stand 
a good barn and fair outbuildings, which 
in turn are surrounded by fields of waving 
grain. He owns altogether eighty acres of 
land, of which fifty acres is improved. Pre- 
vious to the purchase of his present property 
he was the owner of two other farms in Clam 
Lake township, but these he has sold. 

On the 26th of May. 1873, in Big Rapids, 
Michigan, occurred the marriage of Mr. 
Holmberg and ]\Iiss Carrie Anderson, a 
most estimable lady, who has indeed been 
a faithful companion and helpmate to him on 
life's journey. She was born in Sweden, 
July 28, 1844, antl in 1873 came to America. 
She has many excellent traits of character, 
including a kindly disposition and cordial 
manner, which h.ive made her a favDrite 
with many friends. The home of Mr. and 
Mrs. Holmberg has been blesscil with \\\e 



378 



WEXFORD COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



children, namely: Emih-, who is the wife 
of Anton Iverson; Albert E., a salesman at 
Lake City, married Ida Whaley: Ellen A. 
is at home; Anna C. is the wife of Emil Hec- 
tor; and Andrew M., who completes the 
family. The parents are active and devoted 
members of the Swedish Lutheran church, 
and their Christian faith is exemplified in 
their upright lives. Llonored and respected 
by ail, there are no people in the community 
who occupy a more enviable position in the 
regard of their friends, not only because of 
the success which they have won, but also 
because of the straightforward business 
princii)Ies they liave e\er followed and the 
upright lives they have led. In the com- 
]>lex citizenship of America there is no ele- 
ment of more \alue than that furnished by 
Sweden, and Mr. Holmberg has ever sus- 
tained the reputation which his fellow coun- 
trymen bear for loyalty, fidelity and intcg- 
ritv. 



RE\'. L. M. I'klD'liO.M.ME. 

The fame of this eft'icient and popular 
ecclesiastic, professionally and personnally, 
is widely extended, until today, in his thirty- 
fifth year, there are few priests in the diocese 
to which he belongs as well and favorably 
known, iiis labors in the city of Cadillac 
have grc,'ill\- endeared him tn his p;irishi(incrs, 
and to tiie peo]ile. irrespecti\e of church or 
creed, he stands not only a tower of mental 
and moral strength but a loving father and 
gentle spiritual guide, with the l)est interests 
lit humanity ever at lieart. i-'ather Prud'- 
homme is a native of t^anada. born June 
22. iS6<). in the city of Montreal. After 
c<im])leting the prescrilx'd course of the 



parochial schools he entered, in 1883, .As- 
sumption College, near McMitreal, where he 
])ursued his studies for a period of six years, 
taking high rank as a student and making 
an extraordinary brilliant record in the 
classics. In 1889 Laval L'niversity con- 
ferred its highest honors upon him and he 
at once entered upon a course of philosophy 
which required two years to complete. With 
a mind thoroughly disciplined, he began, in 
September, 1891, his ecclesiastical training 
in the Grand Seminary of Montreal and 
three years later, on the 22i\ day of Decan- 
ber, 1894, was ordained a priest for the dio- 
cese of Grand Rapids by the Most Rev. E. 
C. l-abre. D. D. 

Father i'rud'homme's first active labors 
in the ministry were with St. I'rancis' 
Church, Traverse City, to which he was sent 
as assistant pastor by the Rt. Rev. H. J. 
Richter. D. D.. bishop of Grand Rapids, im- 
mediately after his ordination. His work 
with that congregation proving satisfactory, 
he was .soon promoted to a more responsible 
position, the pastorate of St. Ann's parish, 
Cadillac, to which he was transferretl in 
.\ugust of the year 1895. Since taking 
cliarge of St. Ann's, the congregation has 
prospered greatly temporally anil spiritually 
and, as already stated, the beloved pastor has 
found a permanent place in the hearts of his 
people, the order of reciprocal \\-illingness 
and (il)ligati(in being the unwritten l;iw of 
the i>arish. 

leather I'rud'liommc is an rd)le preacher, 
a finished and erudite scholar and is held in 
high esteem by the bisho]) and clergy of his 
own diocese and throughout the state. In 
the city of Cadillac he is favorably regarded 
bv C.itholic> and non-Catholics alike, for his 
manv noble nualities of head and heart, be- 




REV. L. M. PRUDHOMME. 




ST. ANN'S CATHOLIC CHURCH. 



WEXFORD COUNTY. MICHIGAN. 



379 



iiig" une (if tlie most generous and manly of 
men. Ins untiring" lalxirs in the cause i)f 
C luMstianitv endearing him to his own eon- 
gregatioii and arousing' in others an aihnira- 
lion seldom enjoyed hy tlie Catholic clergy 
outside of the pale of the church. ISroad 
minded, charitable and devout, he well de- 
serves the esteem in which he is held, as his 
life is a series of self sacrifices to the end 
that the kingdom of God may be exalted 
among men antl souls won thereto. Al- 
though a young man, Father Prud'homme 
has alread}' accomplished great good in the 
noble work to which his time and talent are 
being dexoted and it is easy to predict for 
him a long and promising future in the Mas- 
ter's cause which, he so ably and worthily 
upholds. 

Father Prud'homme enjoys the rare pri\- - 
ilege of having built within eight years 
three churches, namely, at Lake City, at a 
cost of three thousand dollars, at Frank- 
fort, at a cost of eight thousand dollars and 
at ("adillac. at a cost of fifteen thousand dol- 
lars. A fourth one will be briilt this summer 
at Jennings. .\1I these buildings are free from 
debt and are a credit and an ornament to 
their respective cities. The reverend pastor 
of St. .\nn's has many good words for all 
liis worthy assistants and for the citizens of 
("adillac. irresjiective of creed and nation- 

alty. 

♦-•-• 

ST. ANN'S CHURCH. 

Previous to the year 1880 the spiritual 
wants of the Catholics of Cadillac were at- 
tendei] by priests coming either from Tra- 
\erse City or Big Rapids. In the course of 
1880 the ciiurcii which existed until 1903 



was built uniler the management of Rev. 
Father Ziegler. .\fler that date mass was 
said occasionallv in Cadillac until 1882, 
when Rev. P. M. l^ytdewilligen took charge 
of St. Ann's parish. The interior of the 
church was then finished and services were 
held quite regularly. In 1886 Father Uytde- 
w illigen was replaced by Rev. Louis Barous, 
who worked faithfully until 1894, attending 
Reed City, Evart, Luther, Lake City and a 
few other places. During his pastorate here 
the pastoral residence was purchased and 
many other improvements were made. 
Father Barous celebrated the golden jubi- 
lee of his sacerdotal ordination in June, 
1894., and shortly afterwards resigned his 
charge on account of old age. He was suc- 
ceeded in July of the same year by Rev. 
A. Zugelder, who began the work with zeal 
and success. The church property was 
greatly beautified under his care. 

In August, 1895, Father Zugelder was 
transferred to Provemont, and the present 
pastor. Rev. L. M. Prud'homme, assumed 
the charge of this parish. Since November, 

1897, Father Prud'homme has had an as- 
sistant. The first assistant was Rev. G. 
Guthausen, who was succeeded in July, 

1898, by Re\-. A. Eickelmann. In August, 

1899, Father Eickelmann was promoted to 
the pastorate of Byron Center, Michigan, 
and Rev. B. H. Kettmann came here in his 
place. On January i, 1903, Rev. Father 
Kettmann was promoted to the pastorate of 
Remus, Michigan, and his successor was 
Rev. James A. (iolden. The missions 
attended from Cadillac are Lake City, Jen- 
nings and McBain, Missaukee county. Ma- 
rion, ( )sceola countv, h'rankfort, Benzie 
county, l'"ife Lake, Grand Traserse count}', 
and rem])lc, Clare county. St. Ann's parish 



380 



WEXFORD COUXTV. MICHIGAN. 



lias grown tmni a mcinhersliii) of forty fam- 
ilies, wiiicli it JKul in iSSo. until muv it 
lias at least one luiiiclred and tifty families 
in the city of Cadillac alone, besides several 
families living on farms in the \icinitv. 

The beautiful and suljstantia! new 
church edifice of brick and stone will l)e 
dedicated in the early part of September, 
this year (1903). The building, when 
linished and properly furnished and dec- 
orateil. will cost about fifteen thousand did- 
lors and will seat over five hundred people. 
.St. Ann's parish has kept pace with the 
growth of the prosperous and thriving city 
of Cadillac and its church accommodations 
are now uu>ur|)assed in Wexford count)'. 



i-ri:i)i:rick w. hector. 

I'rederick W. Hector, who is sui)ervisor 
i)f Clam Lake township and one of the lead- 
ing, progressive and prosperous farmers of 
W'e.xford county, is a uati\e of Sweden, born 
on the 1 2th of June, 1847. The first fifteen 
years of his life were passed in that coun- 
try, and during the last fifteen years of that 
lime he w as engaged in gardening. On leav- 
ing that country he went to Denmark, where 
be followed gardening on his own account 
for three years or until 1865. when attracted 
iiy the possibilities of the new world in a 
business way he resolved to try his fortune 
in America and sailed for New York, taking 
passage on a westward-bound vessel that 
weighed anchor in the harbor of Copenhagen 
in May. 1865, and reached its destination in 
June. ( )n reaching this country he made his 
\\;ay to Manistee and entered the emplov of 
the l.ite lohn Canfield. for whom be worked 



at scaling logs for seven years. .\t the 
end of that time he came to Wexford count}-. 
settling at w hat was then called Clam Lake, 
but is now the city of Cadillac. This was 
in June. 1872. and for about three years after 
his arrival he was eiuployed at dififerent oc- 
cupations, but chiedy at scaling logs and at 
tall_\-ing. 

About 1875 Mr. Hector invested the 
mone\- which he had earned in forty acres 
of Irind. forming the nucleus of bis pre.sent 
landed possessions. This tract is on section 
8, Clam Lake township, and upon it he has 
since resided. Since he made the purchase 
he has given his time and attention almost 
wholly to general farming and dairying, and 
as his financial resources have increased he 
has added to his land until he now has a 
\aluable and extensive farm of two hundred 
and eighty acres, of which one hundred and 
twenty acres is cultivated, the green fields 
gi\ing promise of rich harvests in the au- 
lumu. He has erected a line set of farm 
iniililings. including a modern residence, a 
large barn and sheds for the shelter of his 
stock and farm implements. Xone of the 
ec|uipments of the model farm of the tw en ■ 
tieth centtu'y are there lacking. 

On the 7tb of Ajiril, 1870. in Manistee. 
Michigan, -Mr. Hector was married to Miss 
Otillie Corcart, a native of Germany, born 
on the 23d <if December, 1848. Thev now 
h:i\c fi\e li\ing children, as follows: Euiil ; 
Otto : I'heressa, the wife of Edward J. Smith 
of Cherry Grove townshi]j ; Albert and Del- 
jihina. They ha\-e also lost four children, 
who ilied in earlv vouth. 

Mr. Hector's official connection with 
Wcxtord county has been of a character to 
make liim a valued citizen of his community. 
He has held the office of justice of the peace 



WEXFORD COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



381 



and liis decisions were strictly fair and im- 
partial. He was also township treasurer and 
township supervisor, and in matters of puh- 
iic moment he is decplv interested, actrng for 
the good of the community along many lines 
of progress and suljstantial upbuilding here. 
When the \illage of Clam Lake, now Cad- 
illac, tlic County seat, was iucorporated. he 
was elected one of its trustees. He has wit- 
nessed almost the entire growth and develop- 
ment of the county and has taken an active 
part in reclaiming its wild lands for the uses 
of agriculture. He has seen great advance 
along other business lines and feels a justi- 
fiable jiridc in what has been accomplished 
in the count}'. That his own labors have been 
well directed and guided by sound business 
judgment is proven by his success, for he is 
now one of the wealthy farmers of the coun- 
ty, with an attractive home, a vaUiable farm 
and other interests. Progress might well be 
termed the keynote of his character, in both 
public and business life. He has allowed no 
obstacle to deter him from a course which 
he has marked out, and he has employed only 
honorable means to gain the ends which have 
been his goal. Fraternallv he is a member 
of Cadillac Tent, Xo. 2t,2. Knights of the 
.Maccabees, the Order of .M\Uual I'rotcction 
mill The Xow F.ra. 



W ll.i.l-ORD D. F.\LES. 

.\ lifetime spent in the pursuit of one call- 
ing will usurdly result in substantial success. 
Such, is found to he the case in the life of 
Will ford 1). Fales, one of the substantial 
citiezns of section C^. Cedar Creek township. 
He w;is burn in the town nf Fembrcike. sever. 



miles from Niagara halls, Xew ^'ork. Jan- 
uary 29, 1848. His parents were De.xter 
and Sarah ( Wood ) Fales. natives of X'ew 
^'ork. good, industrious iieople who rdwa\-s 
merited a.nd recei\ed the good opinion of 
e\'er_\- comnninitv in which thev lived. The 
subject of this article was the second of a 
famil}- of three children and when he was 
i)ut an infant his ]3arents moved to Pennsvl- 
\'ania where they remained until the subject 
was four years of age. He was then taken 
to New York and for the next three years 
lived in Steuben county, and at the age of 
nine years came to Kent county, Michigan, 
where he grew to manhood, jiis time l)eiug 
occupied in the ordinary labor of the farm. 
From Kent county he went to Muskegon, 
where he resided for two years, being en- 
gaged in the same pin'suit, spending, how- 
ever, his winters in the woods lumbering. 
His mother died in l8^2 and his father in 
1874. 

In the spring of 1S69 Mr. I-'ales came to 
Wexford county and located upon eighty 
acres of land in section 6, Cedar Creek town- 
ship, which he still owns and upon which 
he resides. This little farm he has since 
splendidly ini])rci\e(l. erected upon it good, 
substantial buiklings, set out an orchard of 
four rmd one-half acres, embracing fruit 
trees of all kinds suitable for this cliniatc, 
the greater p.irt. h(>wc\er, being many tine 
varieties of apple trees. Sixty acres are now 
clear and in a splendid state of cultivation, 
and no more desirable little farm home is 
to he found in the county of Wexford. 

On the 5th day of April, 1871, Will lord 
D. Fales was united in marriage to .Miss 
Mary .\im I'lackall. a native nf Kent cmmty. 
The cerenion\- tuok ])lace in the city of ( ir.ind 
Rapids, ;uid the cnntracting parties immc- 



382 



WEXFORD COUNTY. MICHIGAN. 



(liately tliereafter took up their abode on the 
suhject's farm in Ceihir Creek townsliip. 
One cliild was born t(j tliis union, Marion 
B., but the faithful wife and mother did not 
long sur\ i\e. as she died in 1872 after a brief 
illness, leaving her beloxed babe to the care 
of its sorrowing father. In Ottawa county, 
Michigan, on the 3d day of August. 1873. 
Willford I). Tales was again married, liis 
bride on this occasion being Miss Julia K. 
fiillat. a natis'e of Ottawa county, where 
she was reared and educated. They took up 
their residence soon after the ceremony on 
the subject's Cedar Grove township farm, 
and tliere tiiey still reside. To this union 
four cliildren were born, viz. : Herman C. ; 
Lottie M., wife of William Moffitt : Ira 1). 
and (irace 1*^. 

In all local aftairs. particularly contem- 
plated improvements. Willford D. Fales 
takes a deep interest antl he has alwaxs done 
liis full share toward advancing the welfare 
of the county. Mr. and Mrs. Fales are mem- 
l)ers of the b^reewill Baptist church, devout 
worshijjpers and acti\e and zealous in the 
cause of religion. He is a public-spirited 
enterprising citizen who always conscien- 
tiously performs the duties recjuired of him, 
both public and private, and his character in 
the comnninity where he has li\-ed so long 
is abo\e reproach. He is a Prohibitionist 
and takes high ground on the subject of 
temi)cr;mce. 



EDWARD COX. 



The true source of man's dominion on 
earth is said to be derived fmm the jiursuit 
of agriculture. The cdling is ccrtainlv the 
most independent one in which m'ln can 



engage. Others may receive better remun- 
eration for their services and pile up bigger 
fortunes tiian does the agriculturist, but iiis 
calling is the one whose success is absolutel\' 
indispensable to the world's prosperity. The 
subject of this review. Edward Cox. of 
sect:(_in 36. (ireenwood township, is a suc- 
cessful farmer, and one who has devested 
nearly all the years of his life to the calling. 
He has been contcitcd with his lot and the 
returns from his Irdjor, without feeling en- 
vious of those in other lines of labor whose 
compensation seems to be so great that it 
is sometimes deemed wholly disproportionate 
to the service rendered. 

Edward Cox, the subject of this review, 
was born on a farm in Summit county, Ohio, 
juK 15. 1845. If is parents were Richard 
iuul I'hilena (^ Tibbet) Co.x. both worthv and 
highly respected people in the region where 
ihev lived. Both are now dead, having 
passed aw .ay nruiv vears ago. Thev were 
the parents of six children, of whom the 
subject of this review was the third. When 
he was nine years of age, in 1854, the family 
moved to Indiana, wdiere they continued to 
reside until a short time previous to the war 
of the Rebellion, wdien they moved to Otta- 
wa countv. .Michigan. 

In Jul}-. 1862, iuKvard Cox enlisted in 
Companv I-'. I-'onrteenth Regiment Michi- 
gan Volunteer Infantry. The regiment w.as 
during the greater ])art ol the time of its 
service under the command of 'iencral Will- 
iam T. Sherman, served all through the At- 
lanta cami)aign and took part in most of 
the battles fought in that hostile section. He 
was still in the service at the time of the 
siu'render of General Ivobert E. Lee <at \p 
pomattox ;md was not mustered out of the 
service until .after the close of the war. 



IVEXl-ORD COUNTY. MICHIGAN. 



383 



On his return from the scene of hostiH- 
ties ]Mr. Cox again took up his residence in 
Ottawa county, Michigan, and devoted him- 
self to agricultural pursuits. October 3, 
1865, he was united in marriage to Alcena 
Ellis, a nati\-e of Ohio, horn in Summit 
county, July 9, 1839. She was the daughter 
of Jesse and Sally ( ;\Icl\Iullen) Ellis, and 
of a family of fourteen children, se\'en sons 
and seven daughters, she was the youngest 
child. Both parents have been dead many 
years. To Mr. and Mrs. Cox six children 
have been bom, viz. : Milton married Nellie 
Spears and resides in Levering, Michigan : 
IMerton married Cora \\'oods, and resides in 
Greenwood township; Viola is the wife of 
Thomas Maxurd, of Cadillac : Riley married 
Ruth Christian, and li\-es in Greenwood 
township; Charles married Lillic Gross, and 
lives in Cadillac; Paulina is the wife of 
Rol.iert Garrow, of Cadillac. 

In the autunm of 187^ the family moved 
from Ottawa to Wexford county, and set- 
tle! on a charter section of land in section 
36, Greenwood township, entering it as a 
liomestead. There they still reside, each 
year adding to the prosperity which has come 
to them through industry, and they are stead- 
ily accumulating a competency which will 
be more than sufficient to supply them with 
abundance for their old age. Seventy-five 
acres of the original homestead has been 
cleared and constitutes a fine, fertile farm, 
sufficiently productix'e to give them a very 
satisfactory income. Mr. Cox has been hon- 
ored by the voters of Greenwood township, 
at different times, with the offices of super- 
visor, treasurer and clerk. Indeed, there are 
few offices in the township which he has not 
fillcil with credit to himself and satisfaction 
to the public. The only fraternal society 



to which he belongs is the Oliver P. Mor- 
ton Post, Grand Army of the Republic, at 
Manton. He is a worthy citizen whose serv- 
ices to the ]niblic in the township of his resi- 
dence are highly appreciated. He is a reg- 
ularly commissioned correspondent in the 
agricidtural department of the state of i\Iich- 
igan. 

■*-»-¥■ 

HEMAN B. STURTEVAXT. 

From an earlv e|.)och in the development 
of Wexford county until a recent date He- 
man B. Sturtevant was numbered among 
its residents and the part which he played in 
its development, ])rogress and improvement 
well entitles him to representation among 
those who have formed its history. He is 
now Ii\ing in Onvosso. A native of New En- 
gland, he i)ossesses man_\- of the sterling 
traits which ha\e e\er been characteristic of 
the peojjle who come from that section of 
the country. He was born in the township 
of Weybridge, Addison county, Vermont, 
on the 30tii of May, 1840. His father, Milo 
Sturtevant, was also a native of Addison 
countv, but his mother, who bore the maiden 
name of Elizabeth Taft. was born in Pitts- 
ford. \"ermont. The father (le\oted his en- 
ergies to agricultural pursuits as a life work 
and thus provided for his family. Both he 
and his wife died in Weybridge, her demise 
occurring when she was about forty-two 
years of age, while the father died at the age 
of fifty-one years. They were the parents 
of six children, five sons and a daughter. 

Of tliis family Heman B. Sturtevant was 
the secoufl. He attended the common 
schools in his youth and was reared in Way- 
bridge, \'erm<jnt, upon his father's farm, re- 



384 



JV EX FORD COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



sidintf at tliat place until the fall of 1859, 
when he arrived in Michigan, taking up his 
ahcxle in I.ivingston county. He attended 
the normal school at Y])silanti, this state, and 
subsef|uently engaged in teaching school 
through the winter months for aliout two 
years or until after the inauguration of the 
Civil war. He had watched with interest 
the progress of events in the south, had no- 
ted the threatening attitude of certain states 
below the Mason and Dixon line and he re- 
solved that if an atteni])t was made to over- 
throw the Union he would strike a blow in its 
defense, .\ccordingly in 1861 he offered his 
services to the government, becoming a mem- 
ber of Company E, Seventeenth Michigan 
Volunteer Infantry, with which he served un- 
til April. 1862, when he was honorably dis- 
charged, on account of physical flisability. 
In the meantime, hnwever, he had partici- 
jiated in two very important battles <)f the 
war — those of South .Mi)untain and .\ntie- 
tam. 

After leaving the army ^ir. Sturtevant 
made a short visit to his old home in the 
Green Mountain state and then again located 
in Livingston county. Michigan, where he 
contiriued his education, realizing its im])or- 
tance as a prejiaration for the practical and 
resi)onsibIe duties of life, lie entered the 
preparatory school at Ann Arbor with the 
intention of pursuing a college course, but 
he was obliged to relinquish that plan on ac- 
count of ill health. Tieing advised to engage 
in outdoor life he then turned his attention 
to farming in Livingston county, where he 
carried on agricultural pursuits for two 
years On the expiration of that period he 
removed to .Shiawassee, where he also car- 
ried on farming for two years. At the end 
of that time he took up his abode in Owosso 



and represented its business interests as an 
enterprising merchant. He remained there 
until X'ovemlx'r. 1869, when, disposing of 
his store, he came to Wexford county, es- 
tablishing his home in Sherman and at the 
next regular election of the county officers 
he was chosen by popular ballot for the posi- 
tions of county clerk and register of deeds. 
He acted in that dual capacity for six years, 
retiring from the position, as he had entered 
it. with the confidence and good will of all. 
He then resumed merchandising and also en- 
gaged in real estate business in Sherman, be- 
ing an active represaitative of commercial 
life here until the fall of 1901, when he re- 
turned to Owosso. He is. however, .still 
largely interested in lands in this county and 
in the manufacture of lumber and his invest- 
ments not only return to him a good income, 
but contribute to the general prosperity of 
this section of the state. Uj^on his removal 
he not only discontinued his mercantile af- 
fairs here, but also resigned from the office 
of justice of the peace, which he had filled 
continuously from the spring of 1870 until 
the fall of 1901. "His even-handed justice" 
was a characteristic of his official service and 
"won golden opinions from all sorts of peo- 
ple." For eight years prior to 1901 he 
served as su])crvisor of Hanover township 
and in the discharge of his official duties he 
was always loyal and reliable. He took a 
very active part in politics, never failing in 
his support of what he believed to I>e right. 
He was also active and prominent in church 
work in this county, holding membcrshi]) in 
the Methodist Episcopal church, while for 
more than twenty years he was superinten- 
dent of its Sunday school in Sherman and 
was a most active and helpful laborer in the 
cause of Christianitv here. 



irEXFORD couxrv, MICJ-Ua.LX. 



385 



A[f. Sturtexant was married in Unadilla, 
Livingston county, Michigan. November 26, 
1863, to Aliss Rhoda A. Dunn, who was 
born in that place on the 4tb of August. 1842. 
There her girniood days w ere ])assed in the 
home of her parents. Hillicr and Lois 
(Dunn) Dunn, the former a natixe of Xew 
Jersey and the latter of Connecticut. Re- 
nio\ing to the wesl. the\- became residents 
of Lnadilla. Michigan, where both resided 
until called lo the home beyond, the father 
passing awav at the age nt liftN'-hxe ye:>rs, 
while die mother's ileath occurred when she 
was fifty-six years of age. iMr. antl Mrs. 
Sturtevant have adopted a daughter. Ase,- 
nath. who is now the wife of Vincent C. 
Wall, of Sherman, Michigan. Mr. Sturte- 
\'ant still retains his membership in Sherman 
Lodge. Free and Accepted Masons, and he is 
now an active niemlicr of the Order of the 
Eastern Star, with which his wife is also 
identified. Such in brief is the life history 
of one whose efforts ha\e c\'er been discern- 
ingh' directed along well tlefined lines of 
labor, whether for the benefit of himself, 
his country or his county. He has been as 
loyal to iiis town, state and nation in times 
of peace as he was when he followed the 
starry banner upon the battlefield of the 
south and his has e\er been a creditable and 
honorable record, winning for himself the 
confidence and good will of all with whom 
be has been associated. 



HEXRY C. AUER. 



Tlenry C. Auer. a prosperous and popu- 
lar merchant of Cadillac, is a native of Xew 
York. l)orn in Moscow, September 15. i860. 
}]is parents were John H. and 



.Auer. natives of (iermanx'. The family, in 
1864. moved to .\lmont. Lepeer county. 
^Michigan, but remained there only about 
four years, when they moved to Reed City, 
Osceola county, then known as Todd's 
Slashings, and settled on a farm three miles 
from that place. There were seven children 
in the Auer family, of whom the subject was 
the sixth. The father is now living a retired 
life in Reed City. The mother died when 
the subject was three and one-half years old. 
The earlv life of Henry C. .\uer was 
spent beneath the jiarental roof until be was 
seventeen years old. He had attended the 
public schools antl was studious and amlji- 
tious. so that when he laid aside his books to 
face the world and battle for a fortime. his 
mind was well stored with useful knowledge. 
Having secured a position as clerk in a gen- 
eral merchandise store at Xirvina, Lake 
coiuitx. Michigan, he immediately en- 
tered upon his iluties and gave satisfaction 
both to the patrons of the establishment and 
iiis emplovers. Thirsting for more knowl- 
edge, he returned to Reed City, procured a 
place as clerk in a hotel and was gixen an 
opportunity to attend school during school 
hours. When school closed he was ofifered a 
])lace in the Brotherton Hotel at Flint. Mich- 
igan, as clerk, remained there until the man- 
agement changed, when he again returned to 
Reed Citv. Then for two and a half years 
he was employed in the mercantile estab- 
lishment of D. M. McClelland. In .August. 
1882. he came to Cadillac and entered the 
employ of W. R. Dennis & Company, deal- 
ers in clothing and gents' furnishings goods, 
remaining in their service for nearly six 
years. 

Ill Ca<lillac, Wexford county, December 
25. 1885. Henry C. .\uer was united in 



386 



IVEXUORD COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



married to Miss Capitola Havens, a native 
of Almoiit. Micliiyan. Ijorn in August. 1859. 
Her parents are natives of Xew York state. 
Her fatlier is dead, while her nnjther yet 
li\es. One cliild. Harold Clement, has been 
l)orn to Mr. an<l Mrs. Auer. He is a manly, 
intelligent youth, now in his seventh year. 
Plis experience in the clothing and gents' 
furnishing line was such as to make Henry 
C. Auer tlKjroughly conversant with every 
detail of the business. Accordingly, in 1888, 
he entered into partnership with P. Medalie 
in that line of business, the firm name being 
H. C. Auer & Company. The new firm pros- 
pered from the beginning and for five years 
the partnership continued, when it was dis- 
solved by mutual consent. Henry C. Auer 
purchasing the interest of his partner. 
Since that time he has been conducting the 
business alone and with most flattering suc- 
cess. He has a large trade, (|uite an exten- 
sive scope of country to draw from and with 
his well-known fair, hcMiorable business prin- 
ciples, the number of his patrons is steadily 
increasing. He is too busy a man to interest 
himself greatly in politics, hence he has 
neither aspired to nor held a political po- 
sition of any kind. He is interested in true 
Christi;init\', sincere religion and good mor- 
als and is a member of the First Congrega- 
tional church at Cadillac. He belongs to 
three fraternal societies and makes it con- 
venient to give each some attention. He be- 
longs to Cadillac Lodge No. 46, Knights 
of Pythias, to Cadillac Tent, K. O. T. M. 
and to the camp. Modern Woodmen of 
America. By zeal, economy, close applica- 
tion tf> business and indomitable persever- 
ance, from a most humble l)eginning he has 
placed himself among the leading and most 
successful merchants of northern Michigan. 



ISAAC NICHOLS. 

In Clam Lake township, upon a good 
farm. Isaac Nichols makes his home and de- 
\otes his energies to general agricultural pur- 
suits. He was Ijorn in Ontario county, 
Canada, on the 22(\ of March, 1847, ^nd is 
a son of John and Sophia (DeBoyseJ 
Nichols. His parents are both now deceas- 
ed, his father having passed away in Can- 
ada when but thirty years of age. The moth- 
er long survived him, however, and spent 
her la.st days in the home of her son, Isaac, in 
Clam Lake township, where she died in her 
eighty-second year. 

In the Dominion Isaac Nichols was rear- 
ed upon a farm. He attended the public 
sc1kk)1s and when not engaged in the ef- 
fort to master the branches taught in such 
institutions he devoted his labors to the work 
of the farm and thus gained practical ex- 
]ierience in the occupation which he has 
chosen as his life work. He remained in 
Canada until al)out twenty-six years of age 
and then determined to seek a home in the 
United States. !Many are the sons of the 
Dominion who have crossed the border in 
order to enjoy the better business op])or- 
tunities, with livelier competition, that are 
to lie found in this countn.-. It was in the 
month of September. 1873. that Mr. Nich- 
ols arri\-ed in \\'exford county with his fam- 
ily and he settled ujjon the farm where he 
now lives and it has been his home continu- 
ously for thirty years. He here owns one 
hundretl and twenty acres of land and with 
unfaltering energy he has continued the 
work of cultivation and improvement here 
until he now has over one hundred acres un- 
der the plow. He has also erected a modern 
brick residence and made other valuable im- 




ISAAC NICHOLS GROUP. 



H'EXJ'OKD COUNTY. MICHIGAN. 



887 



provements, including the plantin"- of an or- 
chard of four acres, whicli yields its fruits 
in season. His fieUls return to him good har- 
vests and in all of his farm work he is pro- 
gressive, using the latest inipru\cd machin- 
ery in the cultivation of the soil aufl keeping" 
good grades of stock to assist in carrxing on 
the farm work. 

Mr. Nichols was married in Canada to 
Aliss Josephine \\'att, a native of Lanihlnn 
county. Ontario, horn Julv iC, i<S48. Unto 
them liaxe heen horn foiu' children. wIkt are 
)-et lixing, namely: John W'.. Tliompson \\'., 
Melissa S., who is the wife of Roljert Gra- 
liam, and Louisa, who is the wife of Frank 
Flynn. They have also huried one son. Isaac, 
who died in Clam Lake township, when 
twenty years of age, his loss heing deeply 
mourned not only by his family, but also by 
many friends. John W". wedded ]\Iiss Ber- 
tha M. Hammond and resides in Clam Lake 
township : they have one little daughter. Pa- 
tience L. Thompson W. wedded Miss Anna 
Stewart and they ha\e two children, Leone 
J. and Stewart \\ ., a resident of Clam Lake 
township. John is fitting himself for the 
profession of dentist and is now a student in 
the dental department of the Detroit Col- 
lege of Medicine, a memlier of the class of 
1904. 

Matters of public interest pretaining to 
the welfare and progress of his section of 
the state received the attention and often- 
times the active support of Mr. Nichols, who 
is a wide-awake and progressive citizen. 
He has ser\ed as highway commissioner of 
Clam Lake township, lutt has never been an 
active politician in the sense of office seek- 
ing, preferring to give his time and energies 
to his business affairs. He votes with the 
Republican party and is connected w ilh the 



Patrons of Husbandry. He has a nice home 
and good farm and all that he possesses has 
come to him through his own e.Torts. He 
mav well be called a self-made man and 
deserves all the credit which the term im- 
plies. His business methods have been such 
as will bear close investigation and his worth 
both as a man and citizen are widely ac- 
knowledgeil by all w ith wdiom he has come 
in contact. His ho])e of finding good busi- 
ness advantages in the United States has 
been more than realized and liy improving 
the opportunities with which he was sur- 
rounded he has gained a cretlitable positicjn 
among the prosperous agriculturists of his 
adopted county. 



SAMUEL J. CASSETY. 

The next be.st thing to being a native of 
the state of Michigan is to have lived in the 
commonwealth the greater part of one's life. 
Michigan is a great commonwealth, a rich 
and productive state, and of all of her eighty- 
five counties there are not many superior to 
Wexford county as a place of abode. Samuel 
J. Cassety, a resident of Colfax township 
and the subject of this biography, has been 
a resident of Michigan for more than half 
a century, and of Wexford county during 
all of the years of its existence as a county 
and for two vears prior thereto. Only a child 
of se\en vears when his parents brought him 
to the state, from that time to the present 
he has made it his home. 

Samuel J. Cassety was born in the state 
of Ohio. Seneca county. Reed township, 
September 2. 1R45. His parents were 
I'ranklin and Charity (Gill)ert) Cassety, 
the father a native of the state of New 



388 



IVEXl-OIW COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



^'ork. and the mother of Ohio, who 
nndc thai commonweahh tlicir liome un- 
til 1N32. wlien they moxetl to Muskegon 
County, Michigan, setthng on a farm 
in Casnovia township, where tliey cimtin- 
ucd t(i reside until their death, which oc- 
curred many years ago. Tliey were 
llic [lareiUs of si.x children, two sons and 
tiiur daughters, the suhjecl heing the sec- 
ond child of the family. The other sur- 
\i\ing memhers oi his ])arents' family are 
Eliza, the wife of Dexter I'ields, a gardener 
at Salem, Oregon; Hannah, wife of Will- 
iam l-"olston, a ranchman of Oregon, and 
Alice, the wife uf .\mos Cohleigh, a farmer 
also of Oregon. 

On the farm of his father in Casnovia 
townshi]), .Muskegon county, Samuel J. Cas- 
sety was reared and grew to manhood. The 
educational facilities of the state during his 
youth were not all that could lie desired, 
nevertheless he managed to secure a gocjd 
education in all of the common school 
branches, which has been supplemented by 
extensixe reading on many subjects. Tiiere 
are tew men in Wexford county possessed of 
more general information than is the sul)- 
jcct. h'arming has l)een the occupation of 
his life and he began his lessons in agricul- 
ture at a very early age. That they were 
liioroughly learned is amply attested by the 
success he has attained. He remained a 
member i.f the parental household until he 
attained the age of twent\-three years, most 
of the time being occupied in the labors of 
the farm. 

April 23, i,'<6S, Samuel J. Cassely was 
united in marriage to Miss Augusta Field, 
a native of Ohio, lK)rn in Summit county, 
h'ebru.ary 19, 1846. Her parents are Aus- 
tin and Sarah A. (Compton) Field, the for- 



mer being a native of Massachusetts and the 
latter of Ohio. She died in Ottawa county. 
Micliigan, at the age of forty-six years, being 
the mother of eight children, of whom Mrs. 
Cas.sety was the seventh, the other survivors 
of th.e family being Cordelia, the widow of 
I^uther P. Doane, now resides in Conklin, 
Michigan: Aurelia is the wife of Theron 
Emmons, of (!onklin ; Dexter lives in Salem. 
Oregon, and Lester, who married Lucv Do- 
ane and resides in Kalkaska, Michigan. 
.\fter the death of his wife Mr. I'leld moved 
to Oregon, where he died at the age of sev- 
enty-three years. To Mr. and Mrs. Cassetv 
three children have been born, one of whom 
died in infancy. The others are Arthur S. 
and Hugh, .\rihur S., who is a merchant at 
Elton, Michigan, married Anna .\. Gregg 
and they have one son, Delos C. and Hugh, 
who is a farmer in Colfax townshij). niarried 
Mamie Hunt, who was formerly a teacher. 
Mrs. Cassetv was prior to her marriage a 
successful teacher, foru' xenrs in Ottawa 
County and one year in \\ e.xford county. 

The first three \ears after his marriage 
the subject resided upon and cultivated the 
old homestead. In 1871 he came with his 
family to Wexford county and took up a 
homestead of eighty acres in what is now 
("olfax townsbi]). On this land the family 
ha\e Continued to reside up to the present 
lime, 'idiis modest little farm he cleared, 
impnned and cultivated, adding to it piece 
by piece as he was able and the opportunity 
offered nntii at one time he owned two 
hundred and forty acres, one hundred and 
seventy-si.x of which was luider culti\'ation. 
Later he presented one hundred and twenty 
acres to his .sons, so that his i)resent place 
comprises only one hundred and twenty 
acres, which he finds (]uite sufficient to oc- 



iVEXl'ORD COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



389 



cii]iy liis time and attention. Tlie buildings 
npiiii llie jjlace, resilience, barns, stables, etc., 
r.re all that could be desireil and their neat 
and well-kept appearance contributes to the 
general air of comfort and thrift which char- 
acterizes this model rural home. Even the 
most casual glance at the farm and appurte- 
nances will convince a visitor that the owner 
and occupant of the place is no common 
husbandman. 

In politics Ah". Casset\' is a Republican, 
and -althougb he has tre(juently labored 
zealously in the interests ot his party, 
he has ne\er aspired to public position. 
His fellow citizens lia\e, however, Ikju- 
ored him by electing him to a number of 
local offices, such as school inspector, school 
director and o\erseer of highways, and he is 
at present serving as one of the county super- 
intendents of the poor. His standing' in the 
comiuunity has alwavs been of the ^'ery best 
and he might lia\e been elected to places (.)f 
trust and profit in the county had he cared 
to lie a candidate, but his ambition to manage 
well his own pri\-ate affairs precluded the 
possibility of gi\iug any time fi.ir holding 
]jul)lic positions. .Although nevdr ha\'ing 
belonged to any religious order, society or 
church, be is imbued with much \eneraiion 
for Christianity and there are few, even 
among church members, w ho contribute more 
liberally to the spread of the gospel than he 
does. Air. and Mrs. Cassety are among the 
oldest and Ijest known residents of \\'e.xford 
county and all who are favored with their 
acr|u.'iintance speak in the highest terms of 
their man\' sterling (lualities of bead and 
heart. Thev have lived long and well. ha\-e 
done their duty without fear or favor and the 
)uture awaits them with abundant rewards. 



EDWAKFJ C. BREHM. 

Edward C. Brehm is a representative of 
agricultural interests in Wexford county, 
and his farm of eighty acres is situated on 
section 34. Clam Lake township. A native 
of Germany, he was born February 7, 1867, 
and spent the first sixteen years of his life in 
the fatherland, where, in accordance with its 
laws, he attended the public schools between 
the ages of six and fourteen years. He came 
with his parents to the United States in 1883 
and on landing on the eastern coast of the 
new world they made preparations to con- 
tiiuie their ji:)urney across the country, Mich- 
igan being their destination. ^V settlement 
was made in Sherman township, Osceola 
county, the father securing a farm, upon 
which the family li\ed for some time. 

Edward C. Brehm remained at home up 
to the time of his marriage, which important 
e\ent in his life historv occurred 011 the 13th 
of April, 1 89 1, the latly of his choice Iseing 
]\Iiss Ida Di-scher. a daughter of William 
Discher. of Sherman township. Osceola 
county. She was liorn in Ohio, May 19, 
1868, and in her girlhood days was brought 
by her parents to the Wolverine state, wdiere 
she has since li\ed. .\t the time of their mar- 
riage the young cou])le Ijegan their domestic 
life upon the farm where they are now li\-ing 
on section 34, Clam Lake township, We.x- 
ford count}-, Mr. Brehm purchasing eighty 
acres of land, which he still owns. With the 
exception of fifteen acres he has i)laced the 
entire tract under cultixation and the appear- 
ance <-)f the f.arm is pleasing, because of its 
v.ell-tilled fields, its good buildings, and its 
many evidences of the practical care of a 
ihriftv and ijrocressive owner. 



390 



WEXFORD COUNTY. MICHIGAN. 



The home of Mr. and Mrs. Brelim lias 
been blessed with six chihh'en. wIki arc vet 
h\ing; Eninia, Ella, W'aker, Paul, Arthur 
and Gustaf. They also lost one sun. William, 
who died in infancy. Mr. and Mrs. Brehm 
have long resided in this section of the state 
and the circle of their friends is almost 
co-extensi\e with the circle of their acquain- 
tance. They are worth}' representatives of 
the agricultural interests. Mr. Brehm owes 
his success to his own efforts. He has 
brooked no obstacles that could be o\'ercome 
by determined purpose and Imnorable labor 
and thus he has steadily worked his way up- 
ward until he is clas.sed among the substan- 
tial farmers, and his well impro\-ed property 
is the xisible e\'idence of his life of diligence, 
jierseverance and capable management. 



GEORGE C. TEED. 

(ieorge C. Teed, who carries on agricul- 
tural pursuits on section 15, Antioch town- 
ship, is a native of the Empire state, his birth 
]ia\'ing" occurred upim a farm in Livingston 
county on the 1 1 th nf June, 1S52. lie is 
the fifth in a family of eight children, who 
reached mature years. His father. George 
]'. Teed, was a farmer and cariienter. follow- 
ing these ])ursuits in order to pro\ide for his 
wife and children. He wedded Miss Marv 
Richardson and they removcYl from Living- 
stun ciiunty, Xcw ^'clrk. to .Michigan, in the 
winter i>f 1855, making the journey across 
the country with horses and oxen. They 
bettled upon a farm in Ionia county, and it 
was there that their son George was reared. 
He remained a resident of that portion of 
the state until he was thirty years of age and 



from that time when he put aside his school 
IjiKiks he devoted his energies in undivided 
manner to agricultural pursuits. His father 
died in 1867, when about fifty-four years of 
age, and after that much of the farm work 
devolved upon ^Ir. Teed, of this re\ie\\. 
On leaving Ionia county he took up his aboile 
in Kalamazoo county, remaining a resident 
of Climax township for about five years, or 
until the fall of 1888. In November uf that 
vear he came to ^Vexford county and has 
since been a resident of .\ntioch township, 
co\ering a period of fifteen years. Here he 
owns one hundred and twenty acres of land 
and of this ninety-five acres has been brok- 
en, placed under the plow and transformed 
into rich and producti\e fields. Mr. Teed 
has erected good buildings, including a com- 
fortable residence and substantial barns, — 
in fact, hi-^ is one of the fine farms of the 
county and his home is surrounded by well 
tilled fields, returning to him golden har- 
\'ests. He is also interested in the breeding 
of fine blooded stock and thus adds not a 
little to his income. He uses the latest im- 
])roved machinery in operating his land and 
all modern ecpiipments and accessories com- 
mon to a farm of the twentieth centiu'y are 
found upon his place. 

Mr. Teed was married m Kalamazoo 
ciiunty, Michigan, on tlie 14th of May, 1887, 
to Miss Marv Smith, a nati\e of that county 
and a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Foster 
Smith, who were natives of X'crmont. Re- 
mo\ing to the west, they spent their remain- 
ing days in Kalamazoo county. Mr. and 
Airs. Teed are the parents of four children : 
Louis M., Stanley W., Lois (i. and Willis. 

In his political views Mr. Teed is inde- 
pendent, Init keeps well informed on the is- 
sues of the (lay and. in his ballot gives his 



WEXFORD COUNTY. MICHIGAN. 



391 



support to the man w In nn he thinks best qual- 
ified for office. He has taken an active part 
in township affairs and lias been calletl to 
ser\-e in positions of [jublic trust, haxing 
acted at different times as super\isor of An- 
tiocli township, as township treasurer and as 
scliool inspector. He is a staunch a(l\-(jcate 
of the cause of temperance and buth he and 
Itis wife are active members of the Metho- 
dist Episcopal church and take a helpful in- 
terest in church and Sunday school work. 
'Idieir h\'es are in consistent harmony with 
their professions and they do all in their 
jiower to advocate the cause of Christian- 
itv and to extend its influence in this com- 
munity. Air. Teed is also iilentitied with 
Antiocli Grange No. 919, Patrons of Hus- 
bandry. Those who know him entertain for 
iiim the highest regard because he has lived 
worthily, his life being actuated by upright 
principles that have been exemplified in hon- 
orable C(.)nduct. 



GEORGE S. ST.VNLEY. 

George S. Stanley, editor and proprie- 
tor cif the Michigan State Democrat, was 
born in Chester, England, on the ^(Jth of 
June, 1858. His parents, being devout mem- 
bers of the Established church, were desir- 
ous that he should enter the ministry. Ac- 
cordingly his education began at a very early 
age with that object in \iew. .\ftcr receiv- 
ing his preliminary instruction from pri\-ate 
tutors, he was entered when twelve years 
old at the King's school and from that in- 
stitution passed to the Chester l'roi)aratory 
College, which he attended one year. While 
thus prosecuting his studies he concluded to 



give up the idea of taking holy orders and 
devote his life to journalism, a calling for 
which he had long manifested a decided ptel- 
erence. '\\v. .Stanley's first experience in 
his chosen field of endeavor was in the office 
of the Chester Chronicle, one of the oldest 
and most influential weeklies in England, 
where he si.icin gained a i)ractiical knowledge 
of the profession which he has since followed 
with such encouraging success. In 1872 he 
accompanied his family to Canada and dur- 
ing the ensuing ten years was employed upon 
a numl)er of the leading newspapers of that 
country, the meanwhile continually enlarg- 
ing his experience and developing decided 
abilities as a clear, elegant and forcible 
writer. At the expiration of the abo\e per- 
iod he came to Michigan and fc)r some time 
thereafter worked on different Democratic 
papers, liut the following year he went into 
business upon his owai responsibility, by es- 
tablishing in Lapeer county the Columbia- 
ville New Era. Later, 1890, he established 
the Michigan Odd Fellow, a bi-monthly de- 
voted to the interests of Odd Fellowship in 
this state, which grew rapidly in popular 
favor and reached a wide and remunerative 
patronage. After running the two papers 
jointlv for aliout one vear. he disposed of 
them and purchased of M. T. Woodruff the 
Michigan State Dem<icrat at Cadillac, which 
he still owais and personally conducts and 
which mider his alile management has be- 
come one of the leading party organs of the 
state. 

Air. Stanlev is a Democrat of the most or- 
thodox stamp and since his ad\cnt int(.> tho 
field of Alichigan journalism he has ren- 
dered valiant ser\ice for his party in its many 
hard-fought and secnungly hopeless contests. 
Wielding a trenchant pen, he has .ably and 



392 



WEXFORD COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



fearlessly discusseil the leading (jueslions 
and issues upi)n which |)eo])lc and parties are 
<livided. proving a formidable hut courteous 
antagonist, and making- his paper a power in 
stale and national politics, as well as in lo- 
cal affairs. He scr\ed four years as chair- 
man I if the Democratic county committee 
and in that capacity efifected a more complete 
organization than had hitherto existed, he- 
sides doing xahiahle ser\ice in the ranks as 
a personal worker, lie has represented 
Wexford county in nearly all state and cHs- 
irict conventions of his party since coming 
to Cadillac. The ^Michigan State Demo- 
crat is an ahly eilitcd and popular paper, 
with a large and constantl\' increasing cir- 
culation and a liberal ad\ertising patron- 
age. Mechanically it is a model of typo- 
graphic art and through the medium of 
its columns nuich interesting matter aside 
frcim ijiilitic- t'lnds pulilicit\'. The office 
is fully c(|uippe(l with the latest nicideru 
machinery and ai)i)liances used in the 
'"art preser\ati\'e," and nil in all the paper 
compares favorabl}' with the best local 
sheets in the state, while for clearness, force, 
elegance and general literary merit its edi- 
tiiri.'ds are not surpassed hv thuse nf the 
iciding metriipcilitan j(HU'nals. 

In addition to his merits as a writer. 
-Mr. .Stanle_\- is also an orator of recognized 
ability, his services as such being in great 
demand on the hustings as web as on the 
])opu1ar platform. A sound, logical rea- 
siincr and a ready debrUdr, he enters heart 
and soul into everv jxilitical can\-ass. .and 
in the two- fold capacity i>f writer and s])eak- 
er, h.is jierhaps done more to strengthen 
and siilidify his |)art\' ;ind promote its suc- 
i:ess than anv otlier man in the northern 
pari of the state. I'ersonallv he is ;i most 



genial, .affable and comiianionabld gentle- 
man and his popularity is by no means con- 
fined to his political associates, as he is 
held in high esteem by all classes .and con- 
ditions of people wherever known. lie h;is 
a beautiful and .attr.adive lumie in Cadillac, 
being a m.arried mrui with an interesting- 
family of live children, four sons and one 
daughter. 

*—*■ 

TIlo.MA.S W. CKOSI'.V. 

In the respect that is accorded to n-ien 
who have fought their way to success, pos- 
sibly through unfavorable environment, we 
find ;u-i unconscious recognition of the in- 
trinsic worth of a ch.-iracter which not onl\- 
can endure so rough a test, but gain new- 
strength through the discipline. The sub- 
ject of this review. Thomas W. L'rosby. was 
not favored by inherited wealth or the assis- 
tance of influential friends, but in .spite of 
this, by perseverance, industry and a wise 
econon-iy. he has attained a con-ifortable sta- 
tion in life. He is a native of Ohio, born in 
Lucas County. October 2C\ ICS36. His ])arents 
were \';in Rensselaer ,-ind Lucinda 1 ISlack- 
ni;ui ) ('rosin-, the former, who h;id been ;i 
soldier in the war of 1812. dying .-ibou* 
i<S-M. while his wife died about iSSo. The 
subject's grandfather, b'larcom Crosbv-. 
fought in the war of the Revolution ;md saw 
(ieneral Washington man} times. 

Thomas W. Crosby, the sul)ject of this 
review, w-as re;u-ed in his native county of 
Luc.-is and there he spent the first twent\-- 
six vears of his life. .Mind and bodv- were 
both well cared for. I ie was well schooled in 
;\11 of the common bnmches of education 
and his life of industrv on the f.-u-m vv.-is pro- 



IV EX FORD COUNTY. MICHIGAN. 



393 



(lucli\e (jf desirable physical ileveldpnient. 
j^eceniber 22. 1S62, he enlisted in the United 
States service, in Company K, One Hnndred 
and Twenty-eighth Regiment Ohio X'olnn- 
teer Infantry, and saw service also in the 
Fourteenth Ohio Infantry, liis commands 
]>eing assigned to the Army of the Potomac. 
At tlie close of the \\ar, the latter part of 
April, 1865, the regiment was mustered out 
of the service, Mr. Crosby receiving an hon- 
orable discbarge at Camp Chase, Columbus, 
Ohio, July 17. 1865. Returning from the 
field, he again took up his residence in Lucas 
county. Ohio, and devoted himself to farm- 
ing until 1 87 1, when he moved to Big Rap- 
ids, Michigan, where be remained until Feb- 
ruary. 1872, when he located in Wexford 
countv and devoted himself to his calling of 
a millwright, a business be had become 
skilled in before entering the United States 
ser\ice. In 1877. be purchased eighty acres 
of land in section 35, Haring township, 
where be established a home and where be 
has since resided, devoting himiself entirely 
to farming. His place is well improved and 
he has erected thereon good, substantial 
buildings. 

On the 22(1 day of May, 1865, in Lucas 
county, CJhio, Thomas W. Crosl)y was united 
in marriage to Miss Jane D. Lleath, a native 
of Ohio, bom in Holmes county, May 22. 
1845, the daughter of Xebimiah Heath, also 
a native of Ohio. To ]\Ir. and Mrs. Crosby 
four children were born, \iz : Charles, Jen- 
nie, Minnie and M-ilo. Jennie died when 
nineteen years of age: r^Iinnie is the wife of 
Merlon Morford, a resident of Cadillac and 
in the employ of the Crand Ivapids 8: Indi- 
ana Railroad, and they have one child. Ken- 
neth. 

Thomas W. Crosbv has been activclv in- 



terested in all mo\ements designed for the 
public good and the development of the 
township and county in which be resides. 
He .served for a length of time as president 
of the Wexford County Agricultural S()ciety. 
has lieen supervisor of Haring township, and 
has also been township treasurer. He is an 
unswerving Republican and has been such 
since the organization of that party. He is 
a most genial, companionable man, always 
disposed to look upon the bright side of life. 
He is possessed of a rich vein of humor and 
there are few situations that do not furnish 
him an opportunity of extracting therefrom 
n little merriment for bis own and his friends" 
benefit. The real calamity of his life came 
October 12. i8<)7, when his faithful and de- 
voted wife, the mother of bis children de- 
parted this life. He has been true to her 
memory in death as he was true and devoted 
to her in life. 

Mr. (Trosby makes the principle of char- 
itv his religion and is ever ready to dispense 
to those who are in need or distress. He 
has not an exalted idea of the: religion which 
is practiced by many of the'so-called mem- 
bers of churches and says that many min- 
isters have missed their calling and a mone 
tary consiileration is the only goal they are 
striving to reach. 

The following oliituary notices will un- 
doubtedly prove of interest to the reader: 

At midnight last Friday, October 12, 1897, Mrs. 
Jane D. Cros'by. wife of T. W. Crosby, passed into 
rest, at the age of fifty-two years and five months. 
Slie had been confined to her bed since last March 
from the illness which terminated her life, and for 
a period of abonl twenty-seven years her delicate 
health had caused anxiety to her relatives and 
friends. Her physical endurance finally succumbed 
to bronchial consumption, coupled with Bright's 
disease. Her patience and cheerfulness in the midst 
of sufTerim; was a marvel to her many friends. 



394 



WEXFORD COUNTY. MICHIGAN. 



VViih hti- hiisl)and and three small children, Mrs. 
Crosby came to this locality in 1872 and the beauti- 
ful farm home. .iu,st east of the present city limits, 
wrought from what was then a wilderness, attests 
her thoughtful consideration and the splendid man- 
agement of her housthold. She had very many 
friends with the people of this city, among whom 
she was regarded as one of the patient pioneers, 
and at whose suiburban home they always found 
enjoyable entertainment. .\ few years ago her eld- 
est daughter. Jennie Crosby, who was greatly be- 
loved, was taken away by death. The funeral of 
Mrs. Crosby was held from the family home at tw^o 
o'clock last Sunday afternoon and was attended by 
1 large gathering of people from the city and sur- 
rounding country. The ceremonies were conducted 
hy Rev. X. S. Bradley, of the Congregational 
church. 



Miss Jennie Oro.s.by. oldest daughter of Mr 
and Mrs. T. W. Crosby, died at the home of her 
paren-ts, one mile east of this city, on last Thursday 
evening, March 8. 1888. Site was born May 9. 1869, 
at White House. Lucas county, Oliio, and removed 
to this vi<.-inity in 1872. During her life time in this 
community Miss Jennie had become gicatly en- 
deared to all with whom she associated, and in her 
own home was beloved with all the devotion that 
could 'be bestowe<l upon a dutiful daughter and an 
affectionate sister. 

To her invalid mother she had 'become espe- 
cially endeared as .she every day strove ito lessen 
Mie cares and duties that iiccessarily devolve upon 
the mistress of a farm household and to carry them 
herself, even in the tender years of her girlhood. 
She was ever dieerful, happy and hopeful, and was 
always too active and solicitous for the happiness 
t>f others to be mnidful of her own comfort or to 
have room in her heart for a selfish thought. Her 
death is a sad affliction to lu-r bereaved parents, 
sister and two brotliers. 

During her fatal illness, a disease of the heart, 
with which she was attacked on the 14th of Decem- 
ber last. Jemiie was patient and cheerful, though 
undergoing the most intense suffering, an.d her 
thoughts and talks have been higth and noble in the 
extreme. Her remains were laid at rest in our hill- 
side cemetery on last Sabbath afternoon. The fun- 
eral at the family residence was attended by a large 
number of 'her young acquaintances from the citv 
who deeply mourn her loss. 



HEXRV B. HUFF. 

'l"he c<jn(litii>ns which prevailed throiigli- 
oiit the state of Michigan fifty nr niuie years 
ago were by no means wliat they are today. 
The face of the entire crmntry has undergone 
wonderful changes since then. The ^tatc. 
liaving been admitted in 1837. was i>nly 
aljont tliirteen years old and the population 
was siuall, with settlements widely scattered. 
The stntc^ nf the L'nion in 1830 numbered 
thirty and Michigan was the twentieth in 
))opulation, but most of the people resided in 
ihc southern and eastern counties. Kent 
count\-, where Henry B. Huff, the sul)ject 
ot this re\iew, was born, was then practi- 
cally an unbroken wilderness. His par- 
ents had settled there some years previous 
and were among the early pioneers of the 
iocalitw There they endured all of the hard- 
ships of the early settler and there their chil- 
dren were jjorn and reared and learned their 
first industrial lessons. 

Henry V>. Wwi'i. now a resident of Cedar 
Creek township, was born on his father's 
farm in Kent county, Michigan, .\pril _'S, 
1850. His ])arcnts were James S. and 
Phoebe ( Blackall ) Huff', the father being a 
native of the state nf New Jersey .and the 
mother of Xew ^'ork. They had come lo 
Michigan, where homes were cheap ;ind 
where the expense of existence was less btn- 
densomc than in their native commonwealths. 
It is doubtful if they realized the trials, in- 
con\'eniences and privations that .dw.iys .ire 
to be encountered in every new cnuntry. but 
having imce cmssed the Rubicon retiuMi was 
not to be thought nf. They were the ]).'n'- 
cnt^ i>f eight (•liildren, si.x sons and two 
dau"hlcrs. and these the\' reared .and in- 



WEXFORD COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



895 



strurtcd tu lives oi usefulness. About 1870 
the family moved to Cedar Creek township 
and there the latter years of the lives of the 
sturdy old couple were passed. Both were 
in tlie seventy-third year of their age at the 
time (if their death. Of their eight chikh-en, 
Henry P.. Huti' was the second. His youth 
was spent in the woods, the clearing and in 
the iields when the forest had been trans- 
formed into tracts of land which permitted 
of cultivation. He was about five years in 
Wexford county before the remo\'al of the 
family from Kent county, antl \\ith that 
exception the first twenty years of his life 
were spent at the place of his birth. In Sep- 
tember. 1870, he located on a tract of eighty 
acres of land in section 6, Cedar Creek town- 
ship, and there he has remained ever since, 
clearing the land, improving" the farm and 
cultivating" the soil. Farming has been the 
business of lu's life an<l although he has not 
accumulated a great amount of money he 
has made a comfortable living and laid by 
something for his declining years. He is the 
owner of eighty acres, on part of which he 
originally settled, and fifty-five acres of it 
are cleared and the place well improved. 

May I 5, 1872, Henry B. Huff was united 
in mj'.rriage to Miss Sarah Smith, a native of 
Ohio. who. when a little girl, accompanied 
her parents to Michigan when they decided 
to settle in the wilderness. They located in 
Kent county and tliere the little girl was 
reared to womanhood. She and Henrv B. 
Huff had known each other many years and 
when he established a home in Cedar Creek 
township made it comfortable and had lixcd 
there some two years, he sought out the girl 
of h\<. l)o\hooirs lo\e and hastened to make 
her his wife. Since then they ha\e lived 
".nodcstlv. but comfortabK-. upon their little 



farm and there are thousands of rich and 
o])ulent people throughout the land whcj have 
lived less happily, less usefully and less 
worthily than they have. Both are active 
members of the Freewill Baptist church, of 
whicli he is deacon and a trustee. 



\\1LLI V.M 1'. WESTBROOK. 

Most men past the meridian of life who 
have devoted all tlieir years to agricultural 
pursuits and have been successful therein, 
have too much timidity to venture into a 
different calling, one new and wholly un- 
tried. \\ hen such a \enture is made, in a 
majority of cases it pro\es disastrous. While 
men possessed of the requisite versatility to 
make a success under such circumstances are 
not numerous, there are instances of the 
kind where success has been remarkable. The 
sul>iect of this review. William P. West- 
brook, has displayed most creditable \"ersa- 
tility in this respect. Farming has been the 
labor of his life, l)ut in the spring of 1902 he 
decided to embark in the mercantile business 
at Manton. .\ssociating with him his kins- 
man by marriage, O. E. Burns, he embarked 
in the retail mercantile trade and from the 
very first the enterprise has been a gratifv- 
ing success. Location and contlitions were 
right, two very important features, and ju- 
dicious management did the rest. 

William !'. Westbrook. who resides on 
a ])art of section 13, (ireenwood townshi]), 
\\;is horn in Kalamazoo, Michigan. March 
i-j, if^S9- Ili'^ father was Ethan .\. West- 
brook, a native of Xew N'ork. and his mother. 
Mary (l.ockwood) Westbrook. a native of 
.Michigan. lie died in Newavgo countv. 



896 



WEXFORD COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



Michigan, tlie latter part of April. 1902. 
while site is still living at the family lu)me in 
Newaygo county. The .subject of tliis re- 
view is the only child born to his parents. 
When he was about six years old his par- 
ents nio\ed to Xewaygo county. Michigan, 
and settled in Uayton township. There he 
attended the public schools, received a good 
common school education aud grew to man- 
hood. His father's farm and the labors 
thereon supplied him with all the advantages 
of an industrial school, llanl work devel- 
oped his muscles and his strength and, hav- 
ing profited by the time he spent in the school 
room, it quickened the intellect, so that by 
the time he attained his majority he was 
physically and intellectually a well develo])ed 
man. 

July 4. 188,^, in Newaygo county, Michi- 
gan, William I'. Westbrook was united in 
marriage to Miss Sarah Burns, a native of 
Clinton county. Michigan, born January 2, 
1859. Her parents are Mr. and Mrs. W. W. 
Burns, residents of Newaygo county. Seven 
children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. 
Westbrook, two of whom died when about 
two years old. The other children are Frank. 
Ethel. Winnie. Leslie and Wilber. 

In June, 1885, alxjut two years after 
marriage, Mr. Westbrook mo\ed his family 
to Wexford county and located on the farm 
where he now lives and where he has since 
resided. He is a thorougii farmer, having 
devoted nearly all the years of his life to the 
business. He owns one hundred and twenty- 
four acres of good, fertile land, one hundre^l 
acres of which is clear and well improved. 
He is a prudent, careful business man and 
guards his interests mr^re zealouslv than the 
■iverage farmer. His talent for business 
caused his neighbors to elect him to the jxi- 



siticMi of supervisor of Greenwood town- 
ship and held him in the position a numl)er 
of years. He also served as justice of the 
peace of the township. He is a Republican 
in politics and does not confine his political 
activity to local aiTairs. the affairs of the 
county and state receiving a good deal of 
attention from him. particularly during cam- 
paigns. He never aspired to or held any 
public oftice outside of the township of his 
residence. In the spring of 1902 his busi- 
ness tact and keen observation of conditions 
pointed out to him an opening for a pros- 
jjerous mercantile business in the little town 
of Manton. .\ssociating with O. E. Burns, 
they piuxhased a good stock of merchan- 
dise and opened it up in one of the business 
rooms of the little town. Within a short 
time ])atrons became numerous and at the 
present writing the proprietors of the estab- 
lishment are enjo\ing a most llourishing 
trade. There need be little doubt that the 
business will grow and flourish. There is 
a wide scope of rich agricultural country to 
draw from and the business tact already 
ilemonstrated in the management of the new 
enterprise is the surest guarantee of suc- 
cess. 



j.\.\ll':S IIAXTHOKN. 

Wexford count\'. Michigan, has been or- 
ganized only aboiit lliirtv years. .\t the 
time of its organization the population was 
not large, but there were a number of fam- 
ilies within the borders of what is now the 
county who had lived there many years and 
who are stdl living on the farms where 
liiev located ;i generation or more ago. 
rroniincnl runoui;- these, lames Hanthorn 



WEXFORD COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



397 



aiul his worthy wife tleserxe special men- 
tion. Tliey were married only about tliree 
montlis when, in June, 1871, they came to 
this county and located on the farm still 
owned and occupied by them, which they 
received from the government as a home- 
stead. If is here the most enjoyaljle part 
of their li\-es have been spent, here their chil- 
dren were born and reared and here doubt- 
less the remaining' years of their career will 
be passed. 

James Hanthoni is a native of Ireland, 
born in the county of Armaugh, December 
24, 1 841, but spent only the first nine years 
of his life in his native land. In 1850 the 
family moved to Canada, located in North- 
umberland county, Ontario, and there our 
subject grew to manhood. His years of la- 
bor while doing so being devoted to farm- 
ing, his opportunities for acquiring an edu- 
cation were by no means all that could be de- 
sired. Yet bis learning is not deficient. In 
starting out int(.) the workl to do fi:)r him- 
self, after he had attained his majority, he 
liad reasons for beleiving that there wei'e 
better opportunities for a young man in the 
United States than in Canada. Accordingly 
he came to Michigan and stopped at Grand 
Rapids a number of months, where he was 
employed at the lime kilns. From there he 
went to Big Rapids and on the 8th day of 
March, 187 1, was united in marriage to 
Miss Ella. M. Cochran, a native of New 
"^'ork, born September 5, 185 1. Three 
months later they came to Wexford county 
and located upon their present farm. It com- 
prised but eighty acres then, but now in- 
cludes one hundred acres, twenty acres hav- 
ing been added i<< it l)y purchase. The place 
is sui)i)lied with good, substantial buildings 
and it is otherwise well inipnjNt'il .ind (|uite 



producti\e. To Mr. and Mrs. Hanthorn 
have been born seven children, two of whom 
died in early life and Ella May passed away 
May 27, 1903. The others are John, Ada 
v., George .\. and W^illiam T. — Ada being 
the wife of .\rthur Langdon. At present 
the parents of this interesting family are 
enjoying that quiet, peaceful life which is 
the invariable reward of prudence, industry 
and good management. To say that they 
are worthy citizens, deserving of the high 
esteem in which they are held, is only to 
express a fact of which the general, public 
in the vicinity of their home is cognizant. 
Mr. Planthorn's aim has e\er been to do that 
which is right, and rarely indeed has he 
failed in the attainment (if his worthy aim. 
It is to such as he that our country is in- 
debted for the stability of its institutions and 
for the large measure of prosperity which it 
enjoys. 



AL\'AH PECK. 



Among the sturdy sons of the Empire 
state to secure congenial homes in Wexford 
county, Michigan, and achieve success in var- 
ious a\enues of endeavor is the representa- 
tive citizen of Hanover township whose 
name appears at the head of this article. 
Alvah Peck is a nati\'e of Niagara county. 
New York, where his birth occurred on the 
5th day of May, 1834, being the son of Al- 
vah and Lo\ica ( Ketch) Peck, both born, 
reared and married in \'crmont, and both 
now sleeping the sleep that knows no wak- 
ing, near the old family home where their 
son iirst saw the light of day. By reason of 
ihe dc;ith nf iiis parents, which occurred 
'.vhcn he was (|uile young, the subject was 



398 



WEXFORD COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



reared 1)\' triencls who tixik him In Slenhcii 
count}- and it was there he spent liis child- 
hood and \outh on a farm and received liis 
eihicalional trainint;' in the i)nblic schools. 
lu'U'ly thrown upon his own resources, lie 
learned to rely u])on himself and to make 
the most of his opportunities, anil he grew 
to full stature of manliood with a proper ap- 
preciation of the dignity and responsibility 
of life. On the 27th of May, 1853, in On- 
tario county. New York, he was united in 
marriage with Miss Julia Cronk, daughter 
of johji and Margaret (Wilson) Cronk, 
and from that time until 1882 lived princi- 
l)all_\- in the co.unty of Steuben, devoting his 
attention chiefl}' to agricultural pursuits, 
which he prosecuted with fair success and 
profit. Mrs. I'eck was born at .\aples, On- 
tario county, March 30, 1838, grew to ma- 
turity and received her education in that 
town and it was there that her parents died 
and were liuried. 

In the spring of iS8_' Mr. I'eck di.spo^ed 
of his interests in his native state and moved 
to Wexford county, Michigan, selecting for 
his location ;i trad of land in section 6. Han- 
o\-er townshi]). which he has since developed 
and im])roved, converting it into one of the 
liest and n'ost valuable farms in tint part 
of the county. Of the one hundred acres 
constituting his place scvcntv-four are in a 
high state of cultivation, ;ind on this he 
raises abundantly all crops grinvn in the lat- 
itude, devoting especial attention to horti- 
culture, which he lias found not only a j)leas- 
ant and agreeable pursuit, but a far more re- 
liable source n\ income than any other branch 
of husbandry. In the material de\elo])- 
mciil of bis township and the advancement 
of its local interests Mr. I'eck li.as m.ani- 
festcd a ci ■nimciidable spirit, in iwognition 



ot which tact he has Ijcen honored at difl'er- 
ent times with (jllicial positic)ns, proving 
under all circumstances a capable, painstak- 
ing and popular ]iub!ic servant. Keeping 
in close ti )uch with the trend of modern prog- 
ress, and having faith in the future growth 
and prosperity of his adopted county, he 
has lalx)red earnestly to promote the general 
welfare of the community, lending" his aid 
to all worthy enterprises for its material 
improvement and using his best endeavors to 
firing about better social conditions and dis- 
seminate a stronger and more steadfast mor- 
al sentiment. His position in the esteem and 
friendship of those with whom he mingles 
has long been assured: he does honor to the 
community which is ])roud to recognize his 
citizensbi]) and, being essentially a man oi 
the jjeople, with their interests at heart, his 
int^uence has always been on the right side 
of every question or issue affecting the pub- 
lic welfare. Politically Mr. Peck is a Repub- 
lican and as such has been a factor of con- 
siderable weight in local affairs, laboring 
zealously for his partv and contributing not 
a little to its success since becoming a resi- 
dent of this county. Religiously he belongs, 
with his wife, to the Disciple church in Wex- 
ford towiishii). both being zealous members 
and active workers, also liberal sujiporters 
in spreading the gospel both at home and 
aliroad. Personally Mr. Peck is a most af- 
fable gentleman, pos.sessing a pleasing pres- 
ence and genial manners, which, with other 
amiable c|ualities and characteristics, have 
won him the respect of neighbors and friends 
and a wurtliv ])restigc in the community 
which all recognize and ap])reciate. To the 
subject and wife have been born four chil- 
dren, n.aniely: I'.ugene: IjcIIc, now Mrs. 
William Mohler: hdwood, late ])rominent 



WEXFORD COUXTY, MICHIGAX. 



399 



attorp.cy of Cadillac, whose sketcli and por- 
trait appear elsewhere, and Nellie, who mar- 
ried Roy Simmons, of Woodland, Michigan. 
Of the home life and social relations of 
]\lr. and IMrs. Peck it is unnecessary to speak 
except in a general way, as hoth are widely 
and fa\oral)l\' known, all having the pleas- 
m'e of their acquaintance bearing cheerful 
testimony to their high standing and ster- 
ling worth. A Courteous gentleman of the 
old school, the subject possesses the happ}- 
facu!t\- of winning friends and binding them 
to him with bonds which time or circum- 
stances rarely sever, the same qualities be- 
ing characteristic of his amiable and loving 
companion, whose gentle disposition, kindly 
words and hel])ful influence, like benedic- 
tions, have lightened the burdens and bright- 
ened the pathway of many of earth's tired, 
careworn sons antl daughters and whose 
whole life has been a simple, though grand, 
poem of rugged, toils(jme dutv faithful!} 
and uncomplainingly done. Those whn Ikw: 
met Mr. and Mrs. I'eck within the inner 
circle of their domestic tireside, where they 
can be seen at their best, are most profuse in 
their praise, and it is the prayer of all such 
as well as the universal wisii of others that 
their hvcs may be spared many years in 
wdiich to be a continued blessing to the world 
as thev ha\e been in time gone by. 



JOHN A. H.VSKIN. 

Practical industry, \\isel\- a.nd \igor- 
ously applied, never fails of success. It car- 
ries a man onward and upward, brings out 
his indi\-idual character and acts as ;i power- 
ful stimulus to the efforts of others. The 



greatest results in life are often attained by 
simple means and the exercise of the ordi- 
nary qualities of common sense and perse- 
verance. The every-day life, with its cares, 
necessities and duties, affords ample oppor- 
tunities for ac(|uiring experience 'of the best 
kind and its most beaten paths provide a 
true worker with aljundant scope for effort 
and self nuprovcment. The gentleman 
whose name forms the ca])tion of this arti- 
cle has througlunit his entire lifetime pur- 
sued a straightforward and consistent course 
and the success he has achieved has been due 
solely to his own earnest efforts and the wise 
iudgment and discrimination which he has 
exercised in the aft'airs of life. 

John A. Haskin, the subject of this re- 
view, and a resident of Selma township, was 
born in Power Canada, June 17, 1845. Plis 
parents were Ilhiniar and Sarah { Coyle ) 
Haskin, the former of whom died in Janu- 
ary, 1898, and tiie latter died in Jariuary, 
1872. The father was a Cnited f]rethren 
minister when he ilied. his field (.)f work hav- 
ing been in Ohio and Canada. He was a 
soldier in the Sixth Ohio Cavalry and after- 
wards joined the Second Ohio Artillery. He 
was a Republican in politics. 

The first twelve years of the life of John 
A. PJaskin were spent in his native place in 
Canada. In 1857 the family moved to Ohio 
and located on a farm in Ashtabula county, 
wdiere the subject continued to reside during 
the next five years, .\ugust 17, 1863, he en- 
listed in C<impany M, Second Ohio Heavy 
Artillery, in which he served, seeing con- 
siderable service and some hot fighting, until 
the close of the war. The regiment was 
mustered out in .\ngust, 1863. On leaving 
the service he returned to .A.shtalnila county. 
where he sojourned for a short time, when 



400 



WEXPORD COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



lie moved to Kalamazoo county. Michigan, 
where for the next seven years he was em- 
])]o\ed as a farm lahorer. 

In Xovemher, i868. in Kalamazoo coun- 
ty, .Michigan, John A. Haskin was imited 
in marriage to Miss Charlotte Layton. a na- 
tive of New York, i)orn in Genesee county. 
in Decemher. 1844. and whose parents are 
dead. 

Mrs. Haskin was reared in Xew York 
till she was twelve years old and then in 
Kalamazoo C(junty. She was a teacher in 
Kalamazoo county and taught the first school 
in Selma tow nshiji. I-rom Kalamazoo coun- 
ty, in 1869, the family moveil to Allegan 
couritv. where the subject purchased a farm, 
nine miles from South Haven, in the town- 
ship of C'asco. There the_\- remained for 
three years, when an opportunity offered for 
selling the farm at a nice figure and it was 
accordingly disposed of. From Allegan the 
family moved to ^^'e.xford county, in April, 
1871, and entered on a homestead of eighty 
acres, part of section 8. Selma township, the 
same on which the family still resides. 
Forty-five acres of this place is now cleared 
and in culti\ation. with all necessary im- 
])ro\ements. including good, sulistantial 
huildings. Here tlie family has li\ed in 
comfort and cnntentment for nearly thirtx'- 
two years, their income yearly increasing 
and each year seeing an increase in their 
material wealth. 

The voters of Selma township have 
shown their appreciation of the abilities and 
integrity of John .\. Haskin by electing him 
to various township offices. He has served 
them a number of _\ears ;is treasurer and 
clerk and for nineteen he was justice 
of the peace, having Ijeen recenth' re-electe<:l 
again for four vears. He is a charter mem- 



ber of Cadillac Lodge Xo. 331, Free and Ac- 
cepted Masons, and also of Pleasant Lake 
(jrange. Patrons of Husbandry. In him 
the truth of the saying that "merit wins." 
is well e.Kemplified. His success is attrib- 
utable to th.e many good qualities he has 
lirought to bear upon his life work and he 
can now enjoy the reward which steady and 
persistent application invariably brings to 
those who exercise those desiral)le traits of 
character. 

Mr. ;ui<l Mrs. Haskin ha\e had no chil- 
<h"en burn tu ihcm. but in the goodness of 
their hearts have adopte<l and are carefully 
rearing two, a l)oy and a girl, namely: Ed- 
win, who is attending the common sch(X)!s. 
anil Ina. who is a successful and popular 
teacher. 



.\NDRE\V B. DEXIKE. 

While there may be some dispute as to 
who was the first settler of Wexford county, 
there is no cpiestion whatever as to who was 
the first white man to establish a home and 
maintain it from that time to the present 
in Boon tow nsliip. He is not a native of the 
state, nor of the L'nited States, but no na- 
tive-born citizen can claim superiority over 
him for pure, loyal, patriotic feelings toward 
the land of his adoption. His name is An- 
drew B. Denike, whose home is in section 
36. Boon township. 

.■\ndrew B. Denike is a native of On- 
tario. Canada, Iwrn in Hastings county, Ap- 
ril 16, 1846. His parents were Anthony and 
F,lizal)etli Denike. natives of Canada, but 
both are now dead, he dying in Canada, at 
the age of forty-five years, while she died 
also in Canada when she was fortv-one vears 



jy EX FORD COUNTY. MICHIGAN. 



401 



of age. They were tlie parents of eleven 
children, of whom Andrew B. was the eighth 
in order of birth. 

The subject of this review was reared in 
his native county and there grew to man- 
hood. He secured a fair common school 
education, but most of the years of his min- 
ority were devoted to hard labor on the farm. 
In 1869, when twenty-three years of age, 
he came to Wexford county, Michigan, and 
decided to make it his permanent home. He 
looked over the land during the autumn, 
winter and spring, finally taking up a home- 
stead of one hundred and sixty acres, a part 
of section 36, Boon township. The records 
in the land ofifice show that he was the first 
settler in that township and his was the first 
modest home erected within its borders. It 
was a log structure, chinked and plastered, 
and although by no means handsome, it was 
quite comfortable, even during the severest 
weather. One other structure, in the way of 
a habitation for white people, ante-dates the 
first home of Air. Denike in Boon township, 
but that was not erected by a settler nor for 
the purjioses of settlement. It was a build- 
ing erected on the Traverse City state road 
for a wav station and was known as the Sum- 
mit place. Half of the land for which the 
subject received a patent from the govern- 
ment he has since sold. He retains eighty 
acres of the original one hundred and sixty 
acres, to which he has added by purchase 
two fort)-acre tracts, making his farm one 
hundred and sixty acres. Seventy-two of 
those are cleared, improved and well culti- 
vated. All necessary buildings, large, com- 
fortal)le and substantial, have l)ecn erected 
upon the place, making it one of the most 
desirable farms in the townsliip. 

In Henderson township, Wexford coun- 



ty, on the 17th day of May, 1875, Andrew 
B. Denike was united in marriage to Miss 
Emma L. Henderson, a native of Indiana, 
born in Huntington county, December 18, 
1856. Her parents were Thomas S. and 
Sophia (Harris) Henderson, of Henderson 
township. They were among the first white 
settlers and early pioneers of Wexford coun- 
ty. The mother is living in Mason county, 
Michigan, aged about sixty-seven years. The 
father died a number of years ago in Hen- 
derson township, almost eighty years of age. 
To :Mr. and Mrs. .\ndrew B. Denike thir- 
teen children were Ijorn, eight of whom are 
still living, viz: DoUie E., Charles H.. 
Flossie M., Sophia Ernest. Clyde. Albert 
Allen. Thomas S. and Orlando H. Four 
of the other five children all died in early 
childhood. Charles and Flossie are twins 
and Flossie is now the wife of Noyes 
Bainbridge: Dollie. the oldest daughter, is 
the wife of Orange Sprague; one daugh- 
ter, Sylvia, attained the age of thirteen 
years, when she met with an accident 
while at play in the school she was attend- 
ing, whereby she received a fall that resulted 
in her death. 

^^"hat could l)e more natural than that 
the first and original settler of Boon town- 
ship should be deeply interested in its wel- 
fare and that he should be untiring in his 
efforts to push forward its growth and de- 
velopment. He often inconvenienced him- 
self for the public good, but never more so 
than when he consented to discharge the 
duties of various local offices. He has 
served as justice of the i}eace. ovwseer of 
highwavs and in a number of other capaci- 
ties. While acknowledgfug allegiance to no 
particular .sect or religious denomination, he 
is, nevertheless, a Christian and a moral man. 



402 



I VEX FORD COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



Clmrcli and Sunday school work al)sorbs 
mucli uf liis attention. He is a most worthy 
man, possessing the full confidence and es- 
teem of all of his neightors. 

The following newspaper notice regard- 
ing Mrs. Denike's father, Thomas Hender- 
son, as also his obituary notice, will no doubt 
prove of interest in this connection : 

Uncle Tomnij' Henderson, of Henderson town- 
ship, Wexford county, made the Enterprise office 
his first visit last Saturday, and we were well en- 
tertained during his stay. Uncle Tommy is quite 
a character in his way. He was born in Ohio sev- 
enty-two years ago, of hardy Scotch parents. His 
father fought in the war of 1812 and his grandfa- 
ther in the Revolutionary war. He and his four 
brothers were in their younger days strong, muscu- 
lar si.\-footers and it tools a good man to handle 
any of them. Uncle Tommy says he has seen the 
day he could out-run, out-walk, out-fight, out- 
dance, out-wrestle or out-work any man in the state 
and can yet outdo any man of his age. He is now 
six feet in stature and as active of a man of forty. 
He has lived where he now lives for twenty years 
and is well known all over this part of the state. 
He knows a little law, a good deal of medicine and 
has lots of shrewd native sense. He claims to be 
able to cure headache, rheumatism, toothache and 
cancer by the simple laying on of his hands. He 
has been caught under a half dozen falling trees, 
but never had a bone broken. He says he has 
drank forty barrels of whisky and has 'as steady 
neives as any man in the county, which is true. He 
is noted for his generous nature, never refusing a 
man a meal or lodging whether he has money or 
not. He has no use for a Republican or an Indian, 
classing them alwut on a par. But he says the En- 
terprise is a mighty good paper, which shows that 
Uncle Tommy's head is level, if it is not gray. 



Uncle Tommy Hender.son, one of the early set- 
tlers and for whom his town.ship was named, died 
of heart failure March i, 1896, at his home, five 
miles south of Harrietta. He was aJxiut seventy- 
nine years of age. He was very peculiar in many 
ways, but was a good neighbor and generous to a 
fault. Many a weary traveler has found refresh- 
ment and shelter at his htunble home, which became 
a landmark, never to be forgotten. He leaves a 
wife and a large family of children, all of whom. 



with one e-xception, are married and away from the 
old home, and all of whom have the sympathy of a 
large circle of friends. 



JOHN A. (iUST.\I-SOX. 

The little cimntry of Sweden has long 
been noted for the industry, thrift and sa- 
gacity of her many .sons who have invaded 
the borders of American soil, so in epito- 
mizing the review of the subject of this text, 
the following is offered in a brief and plain 
manner, shorn of any ostentation or lauda- 
tory remarks. Mr. Gustafson was born in 
the little province of Sodermanland, in the 
adjacent territory of the beautiful capital 
city of Stockholm, September 5. 1856, and 
his boyhood was spent until the age of 
sixteen in his nati\'e land. His education 
while not of a collegiate nature, was of a 
practical line, which has served him in the 
later years of his busy life. It was in the 
month of .September, 1872, when he decided 
to cast his lot in America, and his objective 
point of location was the little village of 
Clam Lake, now the city of Cadillac, W'e.x- 
ford countv, Michigan. While yet a young 
man Mr. (iustafson was amongst the earh' 
founders and settlers of Cadillac. One year 
after his arrival in Wexford county he en- 
tered the employ of Cloud &- Ballon as an ap- 
prentice to the tinner's trade. 

In 1879 he. severed his connection with 
the above establishment and went to Big 
Rapids where he was employed for two 
years, then in 1881 he returned to Cadillac 
and was at once em])loyed by John M. Cloud, 
with whom he remained till he embarked in 
business for himself. Eight years later, in 
1889, he formed a partnership with Andrew 




JOHN CiUSTAFSON. 



J y EX FORD COUNTY. MICHIGAN. 



403 



Olsen, and engaged in the grocery business 
under the style of Olsen & Gustafson. The 
lu"m thus continued business until January 
1, 1891, when it was dissohed 1)\' mutual 
consent, and Mr. Gustafson, the following 
March, became associated with John John- 
son in the hardware business. The latter 
business continued until 1901, Messrs. Gus- 
tafson & Johnson purchasing good business 
property in an excellent location in Cadillac. 
In 1901 the partnership was dissolved, and 
since that date Mr. Gustafson has been con- 
ducting a heating and plumbing establish- 
ment and is now conducting a general hard- 
ware store. 

Mr. Gustafson's tastes runs mostly to 
mechanics and in this line of business he has 
been remarkably successful and his standing 
and btisiness reputation is such as is recog- 
nized by the better class of the commercial 
world. Mr. Gustafson, while deeply en- 
grossed in his work, has also found time to 
give his support to those measures and enter- 
prises which tend to elevate and advance the 
usefulness of the municipal government of 
the city of Cadillac. In the spring of 1895 
he modestly accepted the office of alderman, 
to which he was chosen by the elective vote 
of the citizens on the Democratic ticket. He. 
like many other of his countrymen, has taken 
a positive and emphatic stand on the excel- 
lence of the city schools and has served on 
the hoard of education. He is of the (i])in- 
ion that the iini\'ersal education of the 
masses is the keynote of stability of the 
great republic. 

Mr. Gustafson is a believer in true Chris- 
tianity, and for years has been an earnest ad- 
vocate of the teachings of the Swedish Luth- 
eran church, and the Sundav schndl, which is 



the great aid to the church, has found in 
him a worthy devotee. 

On the J^d day of September, 1881, the 
subject wedded Miss Amanda ¥. Monson, 
and three children have graced their mar- 
riage, viz : Mabel O., Carl A. S. and Harold 
J. G. By his industry and his integrity of 
character, Mr. Gustafson has gained the es- 
teem and confidence of the citizens of Cad- 
illac and it is a pleasure to print the above re- 
sume, brief as it may be, of this worthy 
Swedish- American citizen. 



NELSON McBRL\N. 

Luxury and longevity on this earth rare- 
ly fall to the lot of the same individual. Hard 
work, rough fare and exposure to the ele- 
ments are more frequently followed by a 
good old ag'e than are downy couches, soft 
rugs and dainty food. The average hod car- 
rier has more years to his score when he 
comes to face the grim ilestro'yer than has 
the average banker. All of the years of Nel- 
son McBrian, of Cedar Creek township, 
more than half a century, have been years 
of almost incessant toil. Yet he is physically 
and mentally well preserved. The hard 
work and exposure and the rough fare inci- 
dent to the lumber camps, where he worked 
for many years, ha\-e left none of their trace; 
ui)(jn a constitution that seems equal to the 
ra\-ages of another half century. 

Nelson McBrian was born in Northum- 
berland cotuity, Ontario, Canaila, August 17, 
1850. His parents were Robert and Mary 
(Collins) McBrian, whose entire lives were 
spent in Canada, both lia\"ing died there a 



404 



J VEX FORD COUNTY. MICHIGAN. 



number of years ago. He was reared upon 
his father's farm in his native county until 
he arrived at the age of nineteen years, hav- 
ing had plenty of hard work to do and little 
opportunity of securing an education. In 
1869, blessed with good health and an abun- 
dance of physical strength, he came to Mich- 
igan and secured employment on the river, 
logging. This he followed during the sum- 
mer and in the winter went into the woods 
and worked in tlie lumber camps. For 
twelve years he followed this business and, 
although the work was hard and the expos- 
ure great, so far from suffering physically 
by what he endured, he gained strength 
and a sturdy physique as a result of his la- 
bors. Unlike many of those employed with 
him, he was prudent with his earnings and 
as soon as he had means enough to enable 
him to purchase a tract of land he gladly re- 
tired from the calling. In 1881 he bought a 
tract of forty acres of land, a part of sec- 
tion 8, Cedar Creek township, and located 
thereon a year later. From that time until 
the present he has been a resident of the 
township. Farming has been exclu- 
sively his occupation since he ceased lum- 
bering and he has made it satisfactorily re- 
munerati\e. He is now the owner of an 
eighty-acre farm, seventy of which is im- 
proved and under cultivation. 

August 2, 1885. Nelson McBrian was 
united in marriage to Miss Linnie Priest, a 
nati\e of Orange, Ionia county, Michigan, 
bom .\ugust 22. 1867. Her ])arcnts were 
Eliphalet and Cornelia (Dunsmore) Priest, 
natives of Xew York, who were among the 
early jjioneers of the state of Michigan. Of 
Uic four children l)orn to .Mr. and .Mrs. 
Priest, ]\Irs. McRrian was the third. The 
subject and his wife are the parents of two 



children, Xellie M. and Ralph. The family 
attend divine service at the Free Methodist 
church and ^Ir. and Mrs. McBrian are mem- 
bers of that religious denomination. The 
only public position which the subject has 
ever filled was that of school director, in 
which capacity he served a numljer of years. 
With limited opportunities, the life of Nel- 
son McBrian has been a far more success- 
ful, exemplary and worthy one than that of 
manv a man burn t(j riches and influence. 



S.VMUEL CARNAHAX. 

On section 4. Antioch township, li\es 
Samuel Carnahan, whose attention is given 
to agricultural pursuits in the operation of 
his valuable farm of eighty acres, of which 
seventy-two acres is under a very high state 
of cultivation. He was born upon a farm in 
LaGrange county. Indiana, March 19. 1844. 
His father, Samuel Carnahan. was also a 
farmer bv occupation, carrying on that pur- 
suit until his death, wliich occurred in La- 
(jrange county in the fifty-fifth year of his 
age. His wife, who lx)re the maiden name 
of Mary Ann Mashon, also died in La- 
Grange county, her death occurring in her 
si.xty-fifth year. They were the parents of 
nine children, of whom Samuel was the 
fdurlh in order of Ijirth. 

L'pon the old homestead in the county of 
his n.ativity Samuel Carnahan was reared 
and when not engaged with the duties of the 
school-room his attentinn was largely given 
U> farm work, with wiiicli he became famil- 
iar in its \arious dei)artments. He continued 
to li\e in LaGrange county until he was thir- 
ty-eight years of age, or until the fall of 



ly EX FORD COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



405 



1882, and at that time he came to Wexford 
county, where he has since made his iiome. 
In December following his arri\-al he pur- 
chased eighty acres of land on section 4. 
Antioch township, and the following March 
he settled upon this tract of land with his 
family. W ith characteristic energy he began 
its cultivation and improvement and has con- 
tinued his work here with the result that he 
now has seventy-two acres of land under 
cultivation. The fields have been divided by 
well-kept fences and the early tints of spring 
give promise of golden harvests in the au- 
tumn, while the sale of his crops return to 
him a good harvest. 

(^11 the i_nh of January, 1871, Mr. Car- 
nahan was united in marriage, in LaGrange 
county, Indiana, to Miss Sarah Rathbun. 
who was born in Elkhart county, Indiana, 
May I, 1852, a daughter of Costain and An- 
dalusia (Gould) Rathbun. Her father died 
in LaGrange in the fifty-third year of his 
age, and the mother afterward came to Mich- 
igan, spending her last tlays in Mesick, 
where she died in her seventy-fourth year. 
She was the mother of five children, of whom 
Mrs. Carnahan is the second. The home of 
the subject and his wife has been blessed 
with five children: Lester C . ; Charles H. ; 
Clara E., the wife of Samuel Jones; Rachel 
A., the wife <-)f Edward Patterson; and 
Samuel All:)ert. 

Mr. Carnalian has serxed as treasurer of 
Antioch township aufl has held difYerent 
school positions. He was elected one of the 
county superintendents of the poor in the 
fall of i8(;o and in these various offices he 
has ever been found reliable and trustworthy, 
discharging his duties in a prompt and capa- 
l)le manner. His political support is given 
to the Republican party and he is a member 



of the Grange. He is also a liberal contrib- 
utor to church work and co-(_)i)erates in 
man_\- measures for the general good. Dm"- 
ing his residence in W e.xford county he has 
so lived as to command the good will and 
confidence of all with whom he has come in 
contact and he has gained many friends. His 
life has been one of untiring industry and 
his farm has been cleared entirely through 
his own efforts. 

]\lr. Carnahan is erecting a residence, 
eighteen by twenty-six feet in Size, on his 
farm, and will thus have one of the most 
comfortaljle and conxenientlv arranged 
homes in the townshi[). 



ISAAC STARKWEATHER. 

Statistics show that the man who toils 
lives longer than the man of leisure. It is 
not the life of ease and comfort that is pro- 
ductive of longevity. The toiler is spared 
to his toil, while the money changer is sep- 
arated by death from his millions. Toil 
should have some reward more than the bare 
pittance it gets in the way of wages and there 
seems to be little doubt that nature has pro- 
vided it with longevity by way of additional 
compensation. The years of the life of 
Isaac Starkweather, the subject of this re- 
view, ha\e been years of active labor. 
Throughout the greater jiart of them he has 
been blessed with the re((uisite health and 
strength to encounter and accomplish e\ery 
task required of him. There is a homely 
old saying, that has far more truth than elo- 
(juence in it, viz: "God fits the back for the 
l)urden." Those dooiued to a life of toil are 
generally endowed by nature with the phys- 



406 



IV EX FORD COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



ical strength to sustain tlieni in its accom- 
plishment. Xatuie is wise and generally 
jnst, if not always generous. 

Isaac Starkweather, who resides on a 
part of section 6, Selma township, is a nati\e 
of Canada. He was horn in Kent county, 
Ontario. January ii, 1846. His parents 
were .\sa and lJetse\ (Ruhle) Starkweather. 
tlio father a native of Xcw ^'l)rk and the 
niotiiev of C'anaila, 1joth now deceased. 

'J'he first twenty-two years of the life of 
the suhjecl were spent in his native county. 
His education was nut neglected, though it 
was In- n(; means as complete as he could de- 
sire. It included a fair knowledge of ail of 
the common school branches and this he has 
since sup])lemented witli a wide range of 
reading which has made him a well informed 
mrui. Xaturally possessed of a taste for 
mechanics and an aptness and skill in the 
use of tools, he took very kimlly to carpen- 
tering and was not ol)liged U> ser\e at the 
business \ erv long lieforc hecuming c|uite 
skilliul. In iN(i<S he catue to Montcalm 
c )unt\'. Michigan, secured employment in 
the woods and worked at logging and lum- 
bering for about a year, when he went to 
l)efi:ince couiUy. Ohio, and followed his 
calling ui a carpenter for a number of years. 
In the spring of 1S.S3 he came to Wexford 
county. Michigan, purchased forty acres of 
land in section 6. Selma township, where he 
erected a residence and proceedeil to estab- 
lish a home. This has been bis jilace of 
abode from that time to the present, al- 
though for five years he was emjjloyed as a 
carpenter and builder in the city of Cadillac. 

On the icSth day of November, 1874, in 
Defiance county. Ohio, Isaac .Starkweather 
was united in marriage to Miss Nancy Dul- 
fev. a native of Paulding counlv. Oh.io, l)orn 



October 2/. 1853. the daughter of Mathew 
and Ahuira (McGee) Dufifey. Her father 
was a native of Ireland and her mother of 
New York, both being now deceased. ^Irs. 
Starkweather was reared and educated in 
her native comity. To Mr. and Mrs. Stark- 
weather three children were born, viz. : Al- 
mira, Asa and Hattie, the latter being now 
a successful teacher of We.xford county. 
The former became the wife of James Har- 
ris. l)ut was called to her eternal rest when 
>he had reached the age of twenty-one years. 
In all public affairs of the township of 
his residence Mr. Starkweather has been 
quite prominent. Next to his individual 
welfare he prizes the welfare of Selma town- 
ship. Indeed, the one is .so clo.sely identified 
with the other that the neglect of the one 
must necessarily reflect injuriously upon the 
other. He has served the people of his tow.n- 
ship as supervisor, treasurer and member of 
the school board. He is a luember of Lodge 
No. 186. Independent Order of Odd Fellows, 
at Harrietta. and of the Selma township 
(jrange. Patrons of Husbruidrx . In his own 
humble, honest, direct way. he has well per- 
formed all of the duties of life and has re 
ceived the ciMumendation and esteem of .all 
who know him. as well as the sanction and 
appro\al of his own conscience. 



AlUEl. \V. TWEEDIE. 

Ariel W. Tweedie. proprietor of the 
Cadillac Creenhouse and one of the city's 
well-known and pojinlar residents, was born 
in Three Rivers. St. Joseph county. Michi- 
gan, October 14, 1855. ^^'^ father. Thom- 
as Tweedie, was a native of Ireland and a 



IVnXFORD COUNTY. MICHIGAN. 



407 



tailor l)y Iradc and his niotiicr. wIid liore ihe 
niaidcn iiaiiic uf Sarah jaiic Wellnian, was 
horn aii(l reared in the state ol" New \'ork. 
W'lien ah(}ut tweKe }'ears of age 'i'homas 
Tweedie came to the L'nited States, and he 
i^rew to niaturitx' in New \'ork and there 
learned his trade and married. Later he 
moved to Michigan and settled at Three 
Rivers, thence went to Schoolcraft, Kala- 
mazoo county, where he followed his chosen 
\ocation until 1882, when he took up his 
residence in Cadillac and here spent the re- 
mainder of his life, dying on the first da_\' 
of Januarv, 1884, his wife survixing him 
until h'ehruary 2_^, j89g. Thomas and Sa- 
lah Jane Tweedie reared a family of sexen 
children, the suhject of this review being 
the fifth of the number. 

Ariel W . was about two years old when 
his parents mo\ed to Schoolcraft, and he 
spent his childhood antl youth in that town, 
receiving his education in the public schools, 
and when a youth in his teens he entered a 
newspaper office to learn the printer's trade. 
lie soon became an ei'ficient workman and 
at the age of eighteen left hoiue and fouml 
emplovmeiit at his trade, working for a 
number of \-ears thereafter for <lifterent 
newspapers, rising to the position of fiire- 
man in nearl_\- all the offices in wdiich he was 
engaged. Among the several places where 
Air. Tweedie held the position of foreman 
was Mount Pleasant, this state, where be 
ser\-ed for .s.ome lime in the office of the 
Xorthwestern Michigan Tribune. Sever- 
ing his Connection with that pajier in De- 
cember. t8()(). he came to Cadillac and took 
charge of the office of the Michigan State 
Democrat, for M. T. Woodruff, in whose 
emplov he continued about two x'eru's, when 
the paper was sold to C.eorge S. St;mlcy. 



After serving several years in the same ca- 
pacity with the latter gentleman, he resigned 
with the object in view of starting a green- 
h(juse in Cadillac, seeing here a favorable 
opening for such an enterprise. Years lie- 
lore he had acquired a taste iov horticul- 
ture and rtoriculture, under his father, wdio, 
in addition to his trade, devoted a great deal 
of attention to the raising of fruits and flow- 
ers. The knowledge of plants thus derived 
was turned to practical use, while serving 
as foreman on the Democrat office, as he de- 
\'oted his leisure hours to floriculture and in 
due time fountl a ready sale at liberal prices 
for the products of his garden. In this con- 
nection it may be proper to state that the 
idea of engaging in this fascinating pursuit 
as a business appears to haxe originated in 
the mind of Mrs. Tweedie, who tor some 
time had been raising llowers and supplying 
the popular demand. She began in a small 
way, but was soon obliged to give the matter 
more serious attention as the demand for 
flowers continued to increase until she was 
no kniger able to gratify it wholly. 

Convinced that a pro])erly conducted 
greenhouse would soon be liberally ])atron- 
ized, Mr. Tweedie at this juncture resigned 
his position and, with the able assistance of 
his wife, at once embarked in the business, 
beginning on a modest scale but gradually 
e.Ktending the scope of their operations until 
the matter passed beyond the experimental 
stage and liecamc an assured financial snc- 
ccss. llv diligent attention and constant 
studv of the tastes of his customers Mr. 
Tweedie succeeded lar beyond his exi)ecta- 
tions. lie gradually built up a nourishing 
business, which has continued to grow in 
\dlume with each succeeding year, the mean- 
while enlarging the capacity of his establish- 



408 



WEXFORD COUNTY. MICHIGAN. 



iiiciit and intmiluciuy new features until he 
now lias a large and well conducted green- 
Imuso. 

A man of refined tastes, he has done 
nuicli through the medium of his business to 
l)r(]mote an interest in floriculture, which all 
concede to be one of the most fascinating 
and, when properly conducted, one of the 
nK)st remunerative pursuits in which a per- 
son of moderate capital can engage. Having 
studied very carefully every phase of plant 
I'fe, he is familiar with every detail of flori- 
culture and possesses sound judgment in 
matters of business, and it is an easy proph- 
ec\- to predict for his alread_\" tlourishing 
enterprise a long lease of continued pros- 
perity. 

Mr. Tweedie was married at Vicksburg, 
Michigan. October 30, 1878, to Miss Minnie 
S. r>oynton, whose birth occurred in the city 
of Xiles, tiiis state, September 2'!<. 1856. 
Mrs. Tweedie is the oldest of two children 
vdiose parents were l\e\'. Jeremy and Martha 
(Stilson) Boyntoii. the father for many 
years a well-known Methodist divine, who 
preached in various parts of Michigan and 
who dieil some years ago at the town of 
Stanton. Six children have resulted from 
the marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Tweedie, to- 
wit: Bertha K., wife of Clarence C. Beach; 
Helena E.. Mattie J.. .Ariel T., and two that 
died in infancy. Mrs. Tweedie has been her 
hu.sband's able assistant in all of bis endeav- 
ors and. as already indicated, niucli of the 
success of his present business enterprise is 
due to the interest she manifested during its 
inception and to her active co-operation 
since. She is an estimable lad}', esteemed by 
a largo circle of friends in Cadillac and oth- 
er places where she has lived, and makes 
her i)resence fell for good among those with 



whom she mingles. Mr. Tweedie is also an 
acti\ t church worker. He ])ossesses decided 
musical talent and is interested in that art. 
his nature being peculiarly susce'ttible to 
all kinds of refining inriucnces. An honora- 
ble, straightforward business man. an ex- 
cellent neighbor, a law-abiding, public- 
spirited citizen, his labors in Cadillac ha\-e 
I'cen fruitful of beneficial results and he 
occupies no little ])lace in the confidence and 
esteem of the public. 



D. w. ciTrris. \-. s. 

The ])rofession of which the subject of 
this review is a worthy representative has of 
recent years come prominently to the front 
and in its ranks today are found many 
learned and distinguished men whose ability 
and skill are lieing unsellishly devoted to 
man"s most serviceable and faithful friend, 
the horse. Dr. U. W. Curtis, a leading veter- 
inary surgeon of Wexford county, and the 
only professionall)' educated man of his call 
ing in this part of the stale, is a nalix'e of 
Canada, born Jainiarx' 24. iS(')3, in western 
Ontario, near the town of Stratford. He 
was reared and educated in the land of his 
nativity and there followed various pursuits 
until iSgo when he entered the Ontario Vet- 
erinary College at Toronto, perhaps the 
most famous institution of the kind on the 
continent, and graduated from the same two 
years later. The same year in which he re- 
ceived his degree witnessed the Doctor's ar- 
rival at Cadillac, Michigan, where heat once 
engaged in the jiractice of his profession, and 
it w;is not long until his ability and skill 
were duly recognized b\ the i)eople of the 



jy EX FORD COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



409 



city ami cuunt_\-, with tlie result that his repu- 
t.ition was soup, permanently estaljlished. 
After practicing' here nntil the tali of 1893 
lie returned to Canada and took a post- 
graduate course in the same institution from 
which he had formerly graduated, thus liy a 
thorough course of training under the direc- 
tion of the best professional talent in Amer- 
ica fitting himself for a calling in wdiich he 
has already achieved marked success and in 
which he is tlestined to till out a still greater 
career of usefulness. Leaving college the 
second time, the Doctor located at Big Rap- 
ids. Michigan, where he practiced the ensu- 
ing lifteen months ,'md at the end of that 
time returned to Cadillac, where he has 
since remained, the meanwhile building up a 
large and lucrative business whicli has been 
as successful financially as professionally. 
In connection with his professional business 
he operated a large horseshoeing establish- 
ment in which none but the most skillful 
workmen were employed, and his reputation 
in this line brought him a patronage much 
more liberal than that of any other establish- 
mc.it of the kind in this city. However, this 
branch of business has Iseen discontinued on 
account of his ni;>t having time to attend to it 
personally, I3r. Curtis has devoted much 
time and thought to the calling in which he 
is engaged and the rare skill he displays in 
the treatment of the various diseases peculiar 
to the horse, and the success with which the 
same has been crowned has given him a place 
in the front ranks of the profession. .V 
close and critical student, he spares no pains 
to keep in touch with the latest discoveries 
and advancements in veterinary surgery and, 
]jossessing the abilit)" to reduce liis knowl- 
edge to practice, demonstrates his hincss to 
meet every reciuiremen.t made upon him in 



the line of his professional work. Jrle is 
one of the snljstantial, public-s|)irited men of 
his atlopted city, has done much to promote 
its general prosperity, materially and other- 
wise, and always stands readv to lend his 
influence and sujjport to all worthy enter- 
prises. Dr. Curtis was married December 
29, 1896, to Miss Marguerite Code, the un- 
ion being blessed with one chikl, Velma 
Irene, who was born July 21, 1898. 



WWLTER L. STCRTl'AWXT. 

Walter L. Sturte\-ant, wdio formerly 
ser\ed as sheriff of W'e.xford county, and is 
living on section 36, Wexford township, 
claims the Green Mountain state as the place 
of his nativity, for he first opened his eyes 
to the light of day in Weybridge, Addison 
county. X^ermont, on the lotli of January, 
1855. '"^ parents being jMUi) and hJizabeth 
(Taft) Sturtevant. of whose family of six 
children he was the youngest.- Both of the 
parents flied in Weybridge. The subject of 
this review spent the first ten years of his life 
upon his fathers farm in that [)lace and then 
went to Saginaw, Michig.nn, with his broth- 
er Ethan .\. Sturtexant, and was reared 
to manhood in that iocalit}- with the ex- 
ception of a year and a half spent in Wey- 
bridge, to which place he returned. He pur- 
sued his education in the public schools of 
Saginaw and lietween the ages of fifteen and 
twenty vears he followed the trade of brick- 
making. On reaching the age of twenty 
vears he again went to his nati\e place in 
N'ermont, where he remained for a year and 
;i hrdf and then again he came to Michigan 
;ind once more settled in Saginaw. During 



410 



WEXFORD COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



the following wnucr he w oiked in the woods 
and next went to Mi.lland, where he resided 
hut a short time. Settling then in Owosso. 
he resided but a short period there and m j 
July. 1878, he arrived in Wexford county, 
taking up his abode in Sherman, where he | 
entered the employ of his lirodier. H. B. 
Sturtevant. with whom he was connected m 
a business way for ten years. The subject 
was then elected sheriff of Wexford county 
in the fall of 1890 and tilled the position so 
accei)tal)ly that he was re-elected for a sec- 
ond term. 

On his retirement from othce Mr. Sturte- 
vant returned to Sherman, where he contin- 
ued to reside for about a year, at the end of 
which time he settled in Wexford townshi]) 
and since the fall of 1897 he has lived upon 
the farm which is now his home. He has 
here eighty-hvc acres of land, which is rich 
and cultivable, the entire amount being im- 
proved, lie has followed farming, continu- 
ally since his retirement from the office of 
sheriff and his labors havebeai attended with 
a high degree of success. His Iniildings are 
substantial, commodious and modern in con- 
struction, his Helds well tilled and he uses 
the latest improved'inachinery in carrying on 
the farm w . .rk. He also has good grades of 
stock upon his place and fruit trees give a 
good yield in season. 

On the otb of October. 1881. was cele- 
brated the niarri.age of Mr. Sturtevant and 
.Miss .Margaret Crites. who was born in Can- 
ada, on the 6th of Aiml. 1839. She is a 
daughter of C. .\. and Jane ( McKee) Crites 
and by her marriage she has become the 
mother of one child. Grace E.. who is now 
the life and light of the household. Mr. 
Sturtevant has been a member of the board 
of review "i \\exf"V>l iwwnship and has 



served as deputy sheriff for a number of 
years. iM-aternally he is connected with 
Sherman Lodge Xo. 372. Free and Accepted 
Masons, and has also taken the Royal Arch 
degree in Cadillac Chapter Xo. 302. i^oyal 
.\rch Masons. In matters pertaining to pub- 
lic progress he is deeply interested and has 
o-iven active co-operation to many move- 
ments for the general good, his assistance 
being of a practical and beneficial nature. In 
his business affairs he has prospered and to- 
day a valuable farm gives evidence of his 
life of industr>-. In his dealings with his 
fellow men he is always fair and just and his 
integrity stands as an unquestioned fact in 
his career. He represents a high type of 
i the American citizen and Wexford county 
I is fortunate in that he has allied his interests 

with hers. 

♦ « » 

Hl-XRV B ALLOC. 

The gentleman of whom the biographer 
writes in this connection enjoys worthy pres- 
tige as one of the honored citizens of Cad- 
ilUic and for a numljer of years he has been 
actively identified with the \aried interests of 
the citv. occupying at the present time aii im- 
portant position with one of its largest busi- 
ness establishments. His well directed ef- 
forts in the practical affairs of life, his capa- 
ble management of large and responsible 
trusts, together with his sound judgment and 
sterling integrity, have brought him con- 
I fidence and prosperity, and his life fitly dem- 
onstrates what may be accomplished by a 
man of energ>- and ambition who places 
upon honorable endeavor its true value. In 
every relation of life he commands the re- 
j spect and confidence of liis fellow men, and 




HENRY BALLOU. 



WEXFORD COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



411 



witlioiit a brief record of liis life this liio- 
gra])liical coiiipeiidiuni nt W'extnril county 
would not 1j€ fully complete. 

Henry Ballou was born in Otsego, Alle- 
gan county, Michigan, June 7, 1854, the son 
ot Byron and Hannah (Eldred) Ballou. The 
father was for many years a Ixisiness man of 
C)tsego, but in 1876 left that place and moved 
his family to Cadillac where he engaged in 
mercantile pursuits until failing health 
obliged him to turn his interests o\er to oth- 
er hands and retire from active life. Com- 
ing to this place in a comparati\ely early day, 
he became cjnite an intluential factor in the 
business affairs and material growth (.)f the 
town and as long as he lived his interest in its 
welfare and faith in its future advance- 
ment never wa\'ered. He served two years 
as postmaster and w'as one of the leading Re- 
publicans of the county, having- also been 
noted as a politician of considerable prom- 
inence for a number of years before taking 
up his residence in this part of the state. 

While a citizen oi Otsego he was es- 
pecially active in political affairs and during 
the late Civil war was untiring- in his efTforts 
to uphold the cause of the Union and induce 
young men to take up arms in defence of the 
nation's honor. Byron Ballou de])arted this 
life in Cadillac and left to his descendants 
the memory of a good name, which they 
])rize among their most valued possessions ; 
his widow still survi\es, as do also four of 
his live children, of whom the subject of this 
review is the third in order of birth. 

llenrv Ballou grew up under the sturdy, 
invigorating discipline and environments of 
the home in Otsego, and received a common 
school education in the schools of that city, 
subse(|uer.tly completing a Inisiness course 
in a commercial college at Crand Rapids. In 



1872 he came to Cadillac as clerk for his 
l)rother, Lorenzo Ballon, who here establish- 
ed a store which for scxeral years was con- 
ducted as a branch of the main establishment 
in Otsego. After remaining with the above 
business concern until 1877, he severed his 
connection with the same and entered the 
employ of the Crand Rapids & Indiana Rail- 
road, where he remained for two years, when 
he entered the company of Cobbs & Mitchell, 
for which firm he ser\'ed as bookkeeper, un- 
til his promotion to the superintendency a 
few \ears later, a i)lace he has since held. As 
general superintendent of the large and far- 
reaching business of Messrs. Cobbs & Mitch- 
ell, he has demonstrated executive abilities of 
a high order, and his career in this important 
and responsible station has been crow'ned 
with usefulness and sustained by the con- 
tinued and unqualified approval of his em- 
ployers. Mr. Ballou is a thorough-going, 
enterprising business man, happily endowed 
by nature with those c[ualities essential to 
successful leadership in large undertaking's 
and in e\'ery relation to wdrich called his 
integrity, absolute reliability and sterling- 
worth have won the confidence not only of 
those in whose welfare he has been directly 
interested, but also of the general public as 
well. He has gained a reputation as a man 
well ecjiiipped with solid business attain- 
ments, but abo\e this he has ordered his 
life on a high plane, having a deep sense of 
his stewardshi]), a just ajjpreciation of the re- 
si)onsibilitics that canopy every lit'e and true 
regard for the esteem in which he is held by 
his fellow men. 

Mr. Ballon was married in Cadillac, Jan- 
uarx' li, iSSi. to Miss S;n-ah A. Cornwell. 
of Ca<lillac. the uninu being blessed with 
children as lnll.iws. Maude Z.. Kate H., 



412 



WEXFORD COUNTY. .MICHIGAN. 



Dora, Henry and Elton, tlic last named dy- 
ing at the age <it' nine uionllis. Mr. I'.alldu 
lias been honored by his fellow men of Cad- 
illac by being elected to different positions of 
trust, in all of which he discharged his du- 
ties faithfully and well, thus justifying the 
confidence reposed in his integrity and abil- 
ity. He served as city clerk two terms, rep- 
resented his ward in the conimon council and 
for several years labored zealously for the 
educational interests of the town as a mem- 
ber of the school board. He has long been 
active and prominent in the social and club 
life of Cadillac, is equally interested in re- 
ligious and benevolent enterprises and all 
worthy means for the moral improvement of 
the community are sure to enlist his in- 
fluence and material support. His name 
adorns the records of Cadillac Lodge Xo. 46, 
Knights of Pythias, and tiie lodge of An- 
cient Order of United Workmen, and as a 
communicant of the Presbyterian church 
his life presents a commendable example of 
applied Christianity, being one of the leading 
menibcrs of the congregation worshiping in 
Cadillac, in which organization his wife is 
also a faithful and zealous worker. His po- 
litical preference is for the Republican part\-. 
but he is by no means a partisan in the sense 
the term is generally understood and he 
would much rather be known as a business 
man and i)rivate citizen than to assume anv 
official responsibilities or accept any pub- 
lic distinctions his fellow citizens might be- 
stow ui)on him. .Mr. Ballon is a man of 
strong convictions and positive character, but 
withal genial and companionable, and by 
reason of his intelligence, integrity and busi- 
ness success holds a warm and aliiding 
place in the hearts of those with whom he 
associates. rSeing in the prime of \igorous 



()hysical and mental manhood, his star of 
usefulness is still in the ascendancy, the ardor 
of youth characterizing his actions as in 
years ago when he first began grappling 
with the practical problems of life. }le has 
done well his part, seeking ever to improve 
his environment, and by the faithful per- 
formance of the duties coming within his 
sphere he has added greatly to the welf.ire of 
the community which is honored b\' his citi- 
zenship. 



WILLI. \M H. STLWER. 

William H. Shaver is a representative of 
the commercial interests of Sherman, where 
he is now conducting a well appointed fur- 
niture store. A native of the P!;m])ire state, 
his birth occurred upon a farm in the town- 
ship of Way land. Steuben county. Xew 
\"ork. on tlie lolh of .\])ril. 1S32. His fath- 
er. Stephen Shaver, was a blacksmith and 
uagonmaker and also engaged in farming to 
some extent. .After arriving at years of ma- 
turity he weilded Miss Julanah Shutes and 
lliey spent their entire married life in New 
\'ork, both ])assing away in Livingston coiin- 
l\-. both being lietween sixty and seventy 
years of age at the time of death. They were 
the parents of ele\'en children. 

\\ illiani H. Slia\er. whose name intro- 
duces this review and wlui was their second 
child. li\ed with his |)arents in Steuben coun- 
t\- until h.e was about fifteen years of age. 
During that time he had accjuired a fair Imi- 
glish education in the public schools. He 
then accompanied his father and mother on 
their renio\;d to Li\-ingstou county. New 
Ndrk. where he continued to make his home 
with them until iS/fi. He assisted bis father 



WEXFORD COUNTY. MICHIGAN. 



4l3 



in wng'onmaking while remaining- under the 
parental roof, l^ut when Iwenty-funr years of 
age he decided to start out in Jife for himself 
and spent about two years in Ontario county. 
New York, during which time he was em- 
ployed at farm labor during the summer 
seasons, while in the winter months he taught 
school. The west, with its opportunities and 
business possibilities, however, attracted him 
and leaving the Empire state he proceeded 
towards the setting" sun, until he reached 
Kansas. He spent about three months in 
that state with the intention of locating there, 
liut not liking the countr_\- as well as he had 
anticipated, he returned to his old home in 
New York. Not long afterward he started 
for Michigan, settling in Grand Traverse 
county, in August, 1879. He lived there for 
a year antl during the first winter of his resi- 
dence in this state was engaged in teaching- 
school. In the spring of 1880 he came to 
Hanover township, Wexford count)', and 
settled upon a farni which he continued to 
culti\-ate and impro-\-e for about two years 
and in addition he also engaged in school 
teaching. (3n leaving the farm he took up 
bis alxjde in the viliag'e of Sherman, where 
he taught school for about four terms, or 
a year and a half. He next entered the em- 
ploy of H. B. Sturtevant as a salesman and 
that he pro\ed niost loyal to the trust reposed 
in hini and was most capable in the discharge 
of his duties is indicated by the fact that for 
fourteen years he was continued in that eni- 
ploy. With the capital which he had thus 
ac([uired through his industry and economy 
Mr. Sba\er began business on his own ac- 
count by establishing a furniture and under- 
taking store and this he has .'fincc conducled 
with gratifying success, his trade continuall) 
increasing. He now carries a large and well 



selected line of goods, ranging from the 
cheaper to the higher grades in order to meet 
the varied demands of his customers. 

On the 23rd of August, 1899, Mr. Sha- 
ver was united in marriage to Miss Lilla 
Falby, a native of Canada. They have a 
pleasant home in Sherman, in addition to 
which he owns forty acres of highly improv- 
ed land in (jrand Traverse county. He is 
now active and influential in the work of the 
Methodist Episcopal church, (.)f wjiich be is 
a member, and contributes liberally to its 
support, doing all in his power to promote its 
influence. He is likewise a member of Sher- 
man Lodge No. 372, Free and Accepted 
Masons, and has held almost all of the offices 
in the lodge. His fraternal relations likewise 
connect him w-ith Maqueston Tent No. 654, 
JNuights of the Maccabees, and with Sher- 
man Lodge, Knights of Pythias. In manner 
Mr. Sha\er is genial and affable, qualities 
which ha\'e won him many friends, and he 
also retains the high regard of those with 
whom he is brought in contact In' reason of 
liis honorable business methods and his 
lidelitv tc) principle. 



TOHN I)UNP,.\R. 



Clearly defined ]nu"pose and consecuti\-e 
effort in the affairs of life will inevitably re- 
sult in the attaining of a due measure of suc- 
cess, but in following out the career of one 
who has attained success by his own ef- 
forts there comes into view the intrinsic in- 
dividuality which made such accomplishment 
])ossible. and thus there is granted an ob- 
jective incentive and ins])iration, while at the 
same time there is enkindled a feeling of re- 



414 



WEXFORD COUNTY. MICHIGAN. 



spect and admiration. Tlie (jnalities which 
have made Mr. Dunljar one of the prominent 
and successful men of Clam Lake township, 
Wexford county, have also brought him the 
esteem of his fellow citizens, for his career 
has been one of well-directed energy, strong 
determination and honorable methods. 
There is also paid to him that respect which 
should always be accorded the brave sons of 
the North who left homes and the peaceful 
pursuits of ci\il life to gi\e their services, 
and their lives if need he, to preserve the in- 
tegrity of the American Union. He pnned 
his love and loyalty to the government on 
the long and tiresome marches in all kinds of 
situations, e.xposed to summer's withering 
heat and winter's freezing cold, on the lone- 
ly picket line a target for the deadly missiles 
of the unseen foe, on the tented field and 
amid the smoke and flame of battle, where 
the rattle of the musketry mingled with the 
terrible concussion of the bursting shell and 
the deep dia])ason of the cannon's roar made 
up the sublime but awful chorus of death. 
John l)i!nl)ar was born in Albany county, 
.\'e\v \'ork. on the 6th of September, 1842, 
and is the son of Robert and Mary (Lake) 
Dunbar. His father was a native also of 
Albany county, Xew York, while his mother 
w as born in Schoharie count}-, the same state. 
Their deaths occurred in Hancock county, 
Ohio, to which locality they removeil when 
the subject was about eleven years of age. 
In that county he grew to manhood and was 
given the benefit of a fair common school 
education. In the spring of 1865, feeling 
that his country needed his services, he en- 
listed in Company E, One Hundred and 
Xinety-seventh Regiment, Ohio \'olunteer 
Infantry, and for eight months faithfully 
served his government at the front. L'pon 



the cessation of hostilities he returned to 
Hancock count v. Ohio, which remained his 
home until, in 1882. he came to We.xford 
county, Michigan, where he has since re- 
mained. L pon coming here he settled on 
the farm which he now occupies, which is 
located in section 25, Clam Lake township, 
and consists of one hundred and twenty 
acres, sixty-five acres of which are improved. 
Like the progressive man that he is, Mr. 
Dunbar has spared neither pains nor e.x- 
jjensc in making of this farm one of the best 
in the township, and one in which he takes 
a justifiable pride. He has pursued his 
chosen calling with ardor, has been fortunate 
in his undertakings and has gradually risen 
step by step over many discouraging obsta- 
cles until he now occupies a place in the front 
rank of the township's most enterprising 
men of aft'airs. .\s an agriculturist he is 
methodical and far-sighted, and the satisfac- 
tory results he has attained prove him pos- 
sessed of sound judgment, keen discernment 
and a faculty of taking advantage of every 
circumstance calculated to advance his in- 
terests in a business way. His place contains 
many valuable improvements and he believes 
money well in\ested that adds to the beauty 
of his home or in any manner enhances its 
comfort or attractiveness. 

in October, 1880. in Detroit. Michigan, 
John Dunbar was united in marriage with 
Miss Sarah Rowe, who was born in Juniata 
county. Penn.sylvania, August 3, 1855, the 
daughter of I^li and Sarah ( Loudenslager) 
i\o\\c. Ill this union have been born seven 
children, of whom fi\e are living, namelv: 
Harry. Lillian M., Clayton, Emma and 
Gladys L. Politically .Mr. Dunbar is in- 
dependent, while his rcligitius con\ictions 
are in harmonv with the creed of the Meth- 



IVEXFORD COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



415 



odist cliurch. The l)usiness career of Mr. 
Dunbar is one that should encourage others 
to press onward to greater achiexenients. 
Earnest labor, unahating perseverance, good 
management and a laudable ambition — these 
are the elements which have brought to him 
prosperity. His devotion to the public good 
is unquestioned and arises from a sincere in- 
terest in his fellow men. What the world 
needs is such men — men of genuine wnrtli. 
of unquestioned integrit\- and honor. 



XELSOX R. TORRKV. 

The life history of him whose name 
heads this sketch is closely identified with the 
recent history of the city of Cadillac, Wex- 
ford county. Michigan. His life has been 
one of untiring acti\-ity, and has been crown- 
ed with a degree of success attained by those 
only who devote themsehes indefatigabh' to 
the work liefiire them. He is of a high type 
of a business man and none more than he 
deserves a fitting recognition among the men 
whose genius and abilities have acliie\ed re- 
sults that are nnjst envialjle and com- 
mendable. 

Xelson R. Torrey' junior member of the 
firm of Torrey Brothers, dealers in marl)le 
and granite, at Cadillac. We.xford county. 
Michigan, is well known among the young 
business men of that city. He is a native of 
this state, having been born at l'"(_)\vler\ille, 
Livingston county, on the 28th of August. 
1870, and is the second in order of birth of 
the five children born to (ieorge S. and .\b- 
I'ie D. (Smock) Torrey. The jiarents re- 
sided for some time at Fowler\ille. but a])out 
1871 located at Evart, Osceola countv, Mich- 



igan, from whence, in 1893, they removed to 
Cadillac, where they ha\-e since resided. 
Their chiklren were as follows: John S.. 
Xelson R.. Harold, who died at the age of 
three. Renie M.. Xeil I!., and Eugenia. 

Xelson R. 'J'orrey was aljout a year old 
when his parents removed to Evart and there 
he grew to manhood and was educated. He 
pursued his studies in the public schools of 
that place and acquired a good education, 
which lie has since supplemented liy wide 
reading and close observation of men antl 
e\ents. .\t the age of fourteen years he en- 
tered upon life's practical duties by engaging 
as a clerk in a grocery store at Evart. in 
which he was employed for four years and 
then was with another grocery firm for the 
same length of time. Then going to Mere- 
dith, this state, he w as employed in a general 
store there for about si.x months, but in 
March, 1893. he came to Cadillac and was 
employed as a traveling salesman or general 
agent for monumental work until 189S. In 
that vear he remoxecl to Charlevoix. Charle- 
voix county. [Michigan, where for a year he 
was engaged in the same line of business on 
his own account. Returning to Cadillac, he 
then purchased the interest of his father in 
the marble works and since then has been 
in partnership with his brother. John S. Tor- 
rev, under the firm st>le of Torrey Brothers. 
Thev are both men of undoubted ability and 
sound judgment in business matters and by 
reason of their technical knowledge have 
been able to cater to the most fastidious 
tastes or requirements in any line of their 
Ijusiness. They do not confine their opera- 
tions solely to monumental work, but also 
have a large trade in prei)ared Iniilding stone. 
plain or ornamental, and in cojjings of var- 
ious stvles. The business has been carried 



416 



WEXFORD COUNTY. MICHIGAN. 



on witli very satisfactory results ever since 
the tirni was organized and is still the only 
establishment of the kind in this city. Mr. 
Torrey is a gentleman of \aried attainments, 
highly esteemed by the peoi)le of his town 
and nothing in tlie way of adverse criticism 
has ever been made against his integrity or 
perstjnal honor. He has pursued the even 
tenor of liis way. quietly and unol)trusive- 
jy discharging the duties of citizenship as 
l)ecomes a loyal American and doing all 
within his power to advance the material 
<ir nmral welfare of the cnmmunity. 

On the jd of February, i8q8, Mr. 
Torrey was united in the holy bonds of wed- 
lock with Miss Jessie V . Bloss, ;i native of 
Detroit, Michigan, and a daughter of D. M. 
and Carrie Iv Bloss. Air. and Mrs. Torre\' 
are acti\e members of the Congregational 
church and take an active and earnest inter- 
est in the welfare of the congregation with 
which the^' are identified. Fraternally Mr. 
Torrey is a member of Cadillac Tent No. 
232. Knights of the Maccabees, and Ca<lil- 
lac Lodge No. 181. Ancient Order of United 
Workmen, in both of which lie occupies a 
high standing and the beneficent princi])les 
I if which lie e.\eni])lilics in his dail\- life. 



PFTFR A. RVDOUIST. 

As the name suggests, the subiect nf this 
review is not of Anglo-Saxon liirth, but 
bails from Sweden, that romantic country of 
historic renown, long distinguished among 
the nations of the w<nid for its grand nat- 
ural features, as well as f<ir ils bra\c, hardv 
and God-fearing people. Peter A. Ryd- 
Cjuist was born November 12, 1844, and his 



early years were devoted to the steady, plod- 
ding industr)' of a farmer bov among the 
mountains and valleys of his native land. 
He remained with his parents uiuil a young 
man, when he left home and for some time 
thereafter worked on a railroad, to which 
kind of employment and agriculture pursuits 
he devoted his attention until about twenty- 
si.x years of age. 

Having, like many of his countrvmen, 
conceived a strong notion of seeking his for- 
tune in .\merica, Mr Ryd(|uist, in 1870, was 
enabled ti) carrv out his desu'e of long stand- 
ing. In the fall of ibat year he took passage 
for the new world and in <\\\(i time, after an 
interesting but une\entful \'o\age. landed at 
-Xew \'ork, frum which cit\' he made his 
way direct to Michigan where he soon se- 
cured remunerative employment on the 
Gran<l Rapids & Indiana Railroad. Later 
lie worked for some time in the ])ineries, 
which kind of labor, with railroading, en- 
gaged his attentions until he took up a home- 
stead, consisting of eighty acres, in Clam 
Lake township, Wexford countv, on which 
he has since lived and prospered. With com- 
mendable industry Mr. Rydc|uist brought his 
land to a successful state of cultivation 
and he now has a well tilled farm and a com- 
fortable home, his buildings and other im- 
];rovements comparing favorably with the 
l-est in the county. He has added to his real 
estate until be now owns one hundred and 
twenty acres, all hue land, the tillable part 
lieing peculiarly adajited to grain, vegetaliles 
and fruits, large crops of which the subject 
raises every year, fie has laliored diligent- 
Iv to prc>\ide a home and a lix'elibood for 
himself a.nd family .-nid his elYorts ha\-e been 
crowned with liberal rewards, as his present 
indepeiulent circumstances and the compe- 



WEXFORD COUNTY. MICHIGAN. 



417 



tfucv accjuired fur nld age abuiitlaiuly at- 
test. 

Mr. Rvdquist's wilV-, win mi lie iiiarried 
in Wexford cuunty, was fciniierly Miss 
Cliristina Hagstrooiii, a nati\'c uf Sweden, 
who came to the United States some time in 
the "se\-enties. She is the mother of six chil- 
dren, namely: Oscar K., hLsther .M.. jcihaiina 
S.. Jdhan A.. Selma 1^. and a danghter, 
Jiihanna. who died at the age of four years. 
'Sir. and Airs. Rydqnist arc higlily esteemeil 
in their neighborhood and have many warm 
friends. Their lives ha\e been along cjuiet 
and sequestered ways and in a liome of plen- 
ty and Cdiitent. at peace with the world, they 
perform their allotted tasks and fulfill their 
missions, conscious that tiic all-wise Father 
will approve their efforts and at last receive 
them to himself. 



JA.MF.S WriALEV. 

James W'haley dates his residence in 
Wexford county since 1869. Coming here 
in pioneer times, he entered upon what has 
pro\en a \ery successful career and is today 
one I if the most prosperous farmers of the 
countv. possessing ^•alual)le landed posses- 
sions, well improved, which he has secured 
through untiring energy and indefatigable 
industry, prompted by a laudable ambition. 

Mr. Whaley is a native of Perth county, 
Ontario, and is the second in order of birth 
in a family of eleven children, whose parents 
were Thomas and Jane ( Whaley ) Whaley. 
They were natives of Maryland, and fnr 
some years resided in Ontario, whence, in 
the year 1869, they came to Michigan, cast- 
ing in their lot with the earliest settlers of 



(."lam Fake township, Wexford county. 
L'ndei the parents" roof James Whaley was 
reared and in the jjublic schools he ac- 
(juired his education. In the year of his 
parents' arri\al in Wexford count)' he also 
came to Michigan and has since been identi- 
fied with the agricultural interests here. He 
entered a tract of eighty acres of land from 
the government and at once began the de- 
\elopment of a farm. Not a furrow had 
been tui"ne<l or an improvement made upon 
the place at that time, but soon the track of 
the plow was seen across the fields, which in 
the autumn returneil good harvests as a re- 
ward for early spring planting. The work 
of de\elopnient has since been carried on by 
Mr. Whaley, with the result that he is now 
owner (if a \er\- producti\'e and fine farm, 
"^'ear b\- vear his capital increased as the re- 
sult of his careful management, his enter- 
prise and economy, and he made further in- 
\-estments in real estate until he is now the 
owner of between three and four hundreil 
acres, of which two hundred acres are cul- 
tivated. Well kept fences divide the place 
into fields of convenient size and there are 
rich pastures upon which the stock grazes 
and good meadows which furnish food for 
the stock in the winter months. The build- 
ings upon the place are modern, commodious 
and substantial and stand as monuments to 
his well-directed labiir. 

Mr. \\dialey was married in Cadillac. 
Michigan, to Miss Jsabelle C.aiie. who was 
l)orn in Illinois, and they now have four 
children: Flla. Fdward. Ida and Frnest. 
Of these the daughter, Ida, is married, being 
the wife of -Mbert Hollenlnirg. In public 
affairs Mr. Wh.aley has been prominent and 
intluential and has .several times been called 
to office. ?Ie was elected and .served as sup- 



418 



WEXFORD COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



ervisor of his townsliip, was also higlnvay 
commissioner and lias lieUl scliool offices, 
tlie cause of education finding in him a warm 
friend, for he reahzes its value as a prepara- 
tion for life's ])ractical duties. For more 
than a third of a century he has made his 
home in Wexford county and has therefore 
witnessed almost its entire growth. He has 
seen its wild lands transformed into [iro- 
ductive farms, dotted here and there with 
attractive homes, good schools anil churches. 
lit has seen its \illages fovuided and grow 
into thriving towns and in all matters of 
suhstantial progress leading to the ])ros- 
perity of the county he has taken a deeii and 
abiding interest. He is a careful man of 
Inisiness. possessing keen foresight and exec- 
utive force, and by his earnest effort he has 
gradually added to his possessions until he 
has gained a very creditable and desirable 
competence, making him one of the well-to- 
do citizens of Clam Lake township. 



HKNKV J. PAYNE. 

America is pre-eminently a land of self- 
made men. for here abound opportunities 
for achieving success such as no other coun- 
try affords. The man of energy and cor- 
rect training may here readily rise to posi- 
tions of usefulness, if not distinction, pro- 
\i(led he is well grounded in the ])rinciples 
of rectitude and integrity. Xot only is this 
the case at the present time, but to some ex- 
tent Conditions have long existed whereby 
the individual, with pro])er conception of the 
dignitv of his mission, might rise superior 
to his environment and win for himself posi- 
tions of honor and trust in the communitv. 
The story of the life of the subject of this 



review. Henry J. Payne, affords a striking 
example of w hat a man endowed with good 
common sense, supplemented by sound men- 
tal discipline, may accomplish in a country 
like this, where opportunity is frequently 
knocking at a man's door. 

Henry J. Payne is a native of Canada, 
born in the count}" of Peterboro. Ontario. 
September 24. 1853. His parents were I'.d- 
ward and Sarah Ann ( Hughes) Payne, both 
ii.'itives of Mngland. They remained resi- 
dents of Peterboro county up to the time of 
their dentil, which occurred nianv vears ago, 
I'ntil he arrived at the age of eighteen years 
the subject hereof remained a resident of his 
native county. There he was reared and 
educated, receiving a good common school 
education. In 1873 he moved to Essex 
county. Ontario, and there devoted himself 
to fanning for a period of ten \ears. lieing 
gratifyingly successful. 

In 1882. in the county of Essex. Ontario, 
Henry J. Payne was united in marriage to 
Miss .\delia B. h^-aby. ;i native of Canada, 
born in Waterloo county, Ontario. Ilcii' 
parents were Frederick and Henrietta I'raby, 
natives of Canada. The mother died' in 
Essex county in 1884. To Mr. and Mrs. 
Henry J. Payne seven children have been 
born. viz. : William G.. Henrietta. Roy \'.. 
.Mnin A.. R. Stanley, T'^rederick ]).. ,-ind Ber- 
tha A. The older children are well edu- 
cated and the younger members of the family 
are still attending school. All are intelli- 
pent and well bred and give ;im])le ])romise 
of becoming worthv. useful citizens. 

About a year after their marriage, in 
1883. Flenry J. Payne and his wife and one 
child. \\'illiam G.. transferred their residence 
to the state of Michigan, locating in Wex- 
ford county. Here he purchased eighty 



WEXFORD COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



419 



acres, to which he has added furtv acres 
mure, hy purcliase. and nf the one hundred 
and twenty acres one hundred are cleared 
and well unjinn'ed. Sixtv of the ini]M'f_)ved 
one hundred acres ha\e heen inipro\ed In' 
r\lr. Pa_\-ne's own labor. On this tidy little 
farm the family occupies a neat, comfortable 
and well-furnished home. The barn, stable 
and outdjuildings are substantial and com- 
modious indeed and in its every feature the 
place discloses the thrift, industry and good 
taste of the owner. 

In the affairs of the township. e\er since 
his location therein. Henry J. Payne has 
taken an active interest. It is his opinion 
that good citizenship exacts from e\ery man 
a portion of his time, no matter how \alu- 
able, which should be devoted to the public 
good and this without any hope of reward 
or return except such as would come to the 
individual through the benefits derived by 
the public generally. Hence, he has felt it 
to be his duty to accept of and discharge the 
duties of a number of the township offices, 
lie has been a justice of the peace, member 
of the school board and commissioner of 
highways and he has been active in e\er\- 
movement inaugurated to improve local con- 
ditions. He is a prudent, conservative, 
public-spirited citizen who is rarely found- 
advocating the wrong side of any important 
question. 



JOHX S. TORREV. 

Practical industry, wisely and \-igorous]\ 
applied, never fails of success. Tt carries a 
man onward and u])ward, brings out his in- 
dividual character and acts as a powerful 
stimulus to the efforts of others. The 



greatest results in life are often attained by 
simple means antl the exercise of the ordin- 
ary qualities of common sense and perse- 
verance. The every-day life, with its cares, 
necessities and duties, affords amjile oppor- 
timities for ac(|uiring experience of the best 
kind antl its most beaten paths provide a true 
worker with abundant scope for effort and 
self improvement. 

John S. Torrey. senior partner of the 
firm of Torrey Brothers, proprietors of the 
Cadillac IMarble and Granite Works, at Cad- 
illac. Wexford county. Michigan, was b()rn 
at Fowler\ille. Li\'ingston county, Michi- 
gan, on the 6th of August, 1868, and is 
a son of (leorge S. and Aljbie D. ( Smock ) 
'rorre\'. The i)arents. who after their mar- 
riage had resided for a time at Fowlerville, 
later removed to Evart. Osceola county, this 
state, in 1871, but in 1893 they removed to 
Cadillac, where they have since resided. 
They are the parents of six children. John 
S., Nelson R.. Renie ^l.. Xeil B.. Eugenia 
and a son who died at the age of three years. 
The father was a worker in marble and was 
for a muulier of vears successfull}' engaged 
in business at Cadillac. 

The subject of this sketch was the eldest 
child of his parents and was but three years 
old when his parents removed to Evart, 
Osceola county, where he received his edu- 
cation in the public schools. When he was 
fourteen years old he commenced working 
at the trade of marble cutting, working in 
several shops at Evart and Clare. Michigan. 
Peardstown. lUint^is. and at Mint. Michigan. 
He was emi)loyed in a shop in the latter 
place about a year antl then, in the spring 
of 1893. he came to Cadillac and entered 
the employ of the firm of Ostman & Torrey. 
of which firm the subject's father was the 



420 



WEXFORD COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



junior partner. He remained willi this Inmi 
aiiDUt a year, when Mr. Ostman retired and 
the tirni of George S. Turrey & Sons was 
lornied, consisting of George S. Torrey and 
two sons. John S. and Xelson R. Tliis 
partnersliip arrangcnieiil continued until 
i8{;6 wlien Xelson K. sold his interest to the 
remaining members of the firm, which con- 
tinued in business, imder the name of G. S. 
Torrey & Son, until 1898. At that time the 
father sold liis interest to Nelson R., since 
which date the business has hetn run under 
tlie lirm st\"le of Torrey P)rothers. The 
meml)ers of the firm are I)oth ])ractical mar- 
ble workers and are therefore able to give an 
intelligent direction to all work entrusted to 
them. They give promi)t attention to all 
kinds of cemetery work and some splendid 
examples of monumental work have been 
produced by them. They also get out large 
amounts of building stone and coping and 
have accpiired a much more than local repu- 
tation, sending their work to many points 
throughout northern and central Michigan. 
By their determined efforts to please their 
customers and tlie excellent (|uality of their 
workmanshi]). thev have won a large and 
rei)rosentati\e clientele .and .are now among 
the leaders in their line in this part of the 
state. 

On the 15th of .\ugust. iSgi. at Evart. 
^Michigan. Mr. Torrey was united in mar- 
riage with Miss I'annie h^arl. a native of 
Alt. Clemens, this state, and a daughter of 
1 ranklin Earl, of Romeo. Michigan. This 
union was a most 1iapp_\' and congenial one 
.-'.nd was blessed l)y the birth of one son, 
.\lton. Mrs. Torrev dejiarted this liie 
on luiK' II. it)<>_^. She had been an acti\e 
and ])ersistent worker in the Methodist 
chiu'ch. and was active in the work of the 



\\'oman"s Christian Temperance L'nion, oi 
which she was president for seven years, 
holding the office at the time of her death. 
In his political predilections Mr. Torrey 
is a Prohibitionist and takes a keen interest 
in all mo\ements having for their object the 
welfare of the community in which he re- 
sides. Religiously he is a member of the 
Methodist church and contributes to all 
worthy benevt)lent objects. Socially he be- 
longs to Cadillac Tent, No. 21,2. Knights of 
the Alaccabees, and to Cadillac Lodge, No. 
181, Ancient Order of L'nited Workmen. 
During all his residence in this county he 
has borne his full part in all public improxe- 
ments and his staniling as one of the 
county's progressive and representati\e citi- 
zens is conceded by all. He has an exten- 
sive acquaintance throughout the county and 
the name of his personal friends is legion. 



(GEORGE \l. THOM.\S. 

It nnist be gratifying to a man who has 
adw'uiced beyond the meridian of a well spent 
life tci lixik back and contemplaie the go. id 
work whicli. by patient industry and unre- 
mitting t<iil. he has accomplished. The men 
who. "back in the sixties." in the l)loom 
of vouth. settled in the forests of Michigan, 
are now on the shady side of life. Alany of 
them still live on the farms which by their 
labors ha\e t.'iken the j)lace of the forests. 
Aluch I'll the work which the change 
necessitated w.as performed by their own 
hands. They ha\e not made as much stir, 
strife or tumult in tlie world as some others, 
but the world is far bcllei" for their modest 
efforts than it is for the blatant zeal of some 



WEXUORD COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



421 



who Ijeliese tlienisehcs entitled to tlie laurel 
wreith of fame. 

George E. Thomas, the subject (if this 
review, is one of those wiio dexnted his earl)' 
mauhood to the subjug'ation of a Mieiiig'an 
forest with a degree of success that must 
Le very pleasing to him in his maturer years. 
He is a native of Ohio, Ixirn in Lorain coun- 
ty, Columbia township. August 30, 1848. 
His parents were Noah C. and Thuseba 
(Bigelow) Thomas, he being a native of 
New York, wdiile Ohio was her native state. 
He was by profession a \'eterinary surgeon, 
but, seldom having all that he could do in 
that line, devoted much of his time to car- 
pentering, in which calling he was very skill- 
ful. In 1 85 1 they came with their family 
to Michigan, located in Thorna]jple town- 
ship, Barry county, upon a tract of land 
wliich was chiefly f(jrest, when they first 
took possession of it, but which within a 
few years was converted into a fertile farm. 
There they continued to reside until visited 
by death, each expiring when only forty- 
eight years of age. They were the parents 
of six children, four sons and two daughters, 
the subject of this sketch being the third 
child ])(ir;i to them. 

When his parents moved to Michigan 
(jeorge E. Thomas was (.)idy three years okl. 
hence his residence in the state covers a 
period of more than half a century. He was 
reared and grew to manhood in Barry coun- 
ty, receiving as liberal an education as the 
ciimmon schools of the time afforded. He 
remained a memlier of the parental house- 
hold until his twentieth year, when, finding 
one whom he felt would make him a suitable 
c(im])anion with whum to tread life's rugged 
journev, he determined to marry. Vccord- 
ingl)-, January 8, 1868, Mr. Thomas was 



united in the bontls of matrimony with Miss 
Mary Ann Briggs, a native of Ohio, born in 
October, 1847. Her parents were Sherman 
and Ellen ( Vietz) Briggs, he being a native 
of the state of Xew^ York, and she of Penn- 
sylvania. Of their family of eight children, 
Mrs. Thomas was the second. 

Young as he was at the time of his mar- 
riage, George E. Thomas was the owner of 
a nice farm in Thornapple township. To 
this place he brought his bride, establishing 
themselves at housekeeping in a comfortable, 
little home upon the place and there they con- 
tinued to reside until 1 881, when they moved 
to Wexford countv, locating on a tract of 
land in Colfax township, where they have 
since resided. At first he owned but forty 
acres, which he piuxhased Ijefore moving to 
the county, Init he has since added to this 
until he is now the owner of one hundred 
and eighty-five acres. Of this one hundred 
and sixty-five acres is comprised in one tract 
located in Colfax township, the other twenty- 
five acres being detached and located in 
Cedar Creek township. The place is 
splendidly impro\'ed, he having recently 
erected good farm buildings of all kinds, in- 
cluding a neat, comfortable residence. 
There are cig-bty acres of the home place in 
Colfax township improved and under culti- 
vation. 

In all matters relating to the welfare of 
the township Mr. Thomas takes commenda- 
ble interest. He has served as township 
treasurer and being interested in education 
is generallv one of tlie members of the 
school board. Mr. and Mrs. Thomas are 
firm believers in religiini, its practices and 
the im])(>rtant wnrk which it does in ameli- 
orating the condition of mankind. Hence 
from their substance thcv give freelv to the 



■122 



WEXFORD COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



cause of riin'stianily and charity. In ad- 
dition to his rural possessions. Mr. i honias 
also owns considerai)le property in Manton. 
r".acii season since Ciiniing to Wexford coun 
t\'. now (1003) twenty-two years, he has 
heen in tlie employ of the Champion .\gricul- 
inral lm])lenient Company and has sold for 
ihem many thousands of dollars' wortli of 
machinery. He is not onl)- a successful and 
])rogressi\'e farmer, hut a thorough husiness 
nrin. whose chaiacler lor nior.'d worth and 
strict intcgritN' is well established l.iy the com- 
mercial transactions of _\-ears. He is a mem- 
her of Lodge Xo. 347. Free and .\cce])ted 
Masons, of Manton. 



CARL v.. IIACSTKO.M. 

Carl E. Ilagstrom. who is engaged in 
general farming in Clam Lake townshi]). 
Wextord countw is a nati\-e of Sweden, liis 
I'irth ha\ing there occurred on the 3d of 
Julw iS()3. lie being the fourth of seven 
children born unlo I'etcr J. and Ingred ( Lar- 
son) Ilagstrom. who were also natixes of 
Sweden, r.eliexing that he might have bet- 
ter business o])])()rtunilies in the new world 
and furnish his children with better advant- 
ages than could lie obtained in the land of 
his birth, the father made arrangements to 
bring his family to America. Bidding adieu 
to li(;me and friends they sailed from Sweden 
in the fall of 1874 and in due course of time 
arrived at Xew "N'ork City. Proceeding into 
the interior of the country, they remained 
for almost a vear in the \icinity of Howard 
City. Michigan, but in the spring of 1S7; 
came to Wexford county, where the sub- 
ject of this review has since made his home, 



coxering a ])eriod of twenty-eight years, 
lime and man have wrought many changes 
in the appearance of the county during this 
lime. The farmers have taken possession 
of the land and transformed it from a wild 
tract into productive lields. The merchants 
and artisans ha\e developed thriving towns 
and all the comforts, conveniences and ad- 
vantages of the older districts of the country 
have been introduced, placing Wexford on 
a par with an\- countv in the state. 

Mr. Hagstrom luis always followed farm- 
ing. Hrst as an assistrmt on the old home 
]ilace and laler on his own account. He has 
also worked in the lumber woods and for 
eight }-ears he was engaged in buying ])ota- 
toes at Hobart as agent for the firm of I-"ree- 
man Brothers. His sa\'ings ha\'e been in- 
vested in ])ri>])erty and he is now the owner 
of thirty acres of land in Clam Lake town- 
shi]). most of which is improved, and upon 
the jjlace are good buildings. Tie is now- 
giving his undi\-ided attention to the further 
de\clopment of his farm and follows pro- 
gressive methods in his farm work. 

On the J4th of June. iSc)^. Mr. Hag- 
si rom was united in mariage. in Clam Lake 
t'lwnshi]). to .Miss Jennie .Marie (iran. a 
daughter of X. J. and Johanna Christina 
(Anderson) Ciran, well-known residents of 
this township. The father is now a resi- 
lient of Cl.am Lake township, aged sixt}'- 
three years, while the mother died .\ngust 
2. 18S7. They were adherents of the 
Swedish Mission church. .Mrs. Hagstrom 
was born in .Sweden, .\ugust 2(1. iS6(). and 
like her husband was reared in Wcxfonl 
county, where both are wideh' and favor- 
alil\- \<\v iwn. 

.Mr. Ilagstrom exercises his right of 
franchise in support of the men and meas- 



JF EX FORD COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



423 



ures of tlie Republican ])ai"t_\', is deeply inter- 
ested in its success and does all he can for its 
j^iowtli. He has held sonic otiices in his 
Kjwnship. including" that of highwa)' coni- 
-niisioner, and he delights in the ])rogTess 
and advancement here made along all lines 
of general impro\enient. The moral ad- 
\ancenient of the community is also a matter 
of interest to him and he is an attendant on 
llie services of the Swedish Mission church. 
From his boyhood days to the present he has 
been a resident of the county and that his 
stanchest friends arc numbered among those 
\vho have known him from his youth is an 
indication that he has lixed an honorable life, 
characterized bv all those traits which in 
every land and clime command respect and 
admiration. 



OTTO HAOtSTROM. 

There is no element in our American citi- 
.7enshi]) that is of more value than that fur- 
nished i)y Sweden, for the sons of that 
country possess the characteristics recpiisite 
to good citizenship. They are industrious, 
l)rogressive and thoroughly reliable. One 
of the renowned travelers who has visited 
almost every part of the world and visited 
almost every people on the face of the globe 
said: "Sweden is the home of the honest 
man." This element alone in the sons of 
that country would make them a valued 
addition to any land. As his name in- 
dicates, Mr. Hagstrom comes from Sweden, 
where his liirth occurred on the 22i\ i if March, 
1866. his parents being Peter J. and ingred 
(Larson) Hagstrom, unto wliom were Ixjru 
seven children, the su1)ject of this rexiew be- 
ing the sixth in order of birth. He was ;i 



youth of eight years when the family left 
their native lantl and saded for the new 
worlil, arriving in the United States in the 
autumn. They came at once to IMichigan 
a.nd for a year resided near H(_)ward City. 
In the spring of 1875 they came to Wex- 
ford county, and since that time Otto Hag- 
strom has been a resident (if Clam Lake 
township. His hfe has been one of indus- 
tr\'. I'or se\en years he was employed in 
the lumber woods and since 1893 he has 
engaged in general farming. He thorough- 
ly understands the best methods of conduct- 
ing his farm, of raising crops and placing 
ihem on the market so as to jjring a good 
return, and in all his work he is progressive, 
practical and energetic. 

In Cadillac, Michigan, Mr. Hagstrom 
was united in marriage to Miss Ida Johnson, 
who was also a native of Sweden. They 
traveled life's journey together very happily 
for a number of years, l)ut in 1900 were 
separated l)y death, the wife being called to 
the home be\ond on the 9th of September of 
that _\-ear. She left four children : John, 
Adol])h, Oscar and Edla, and they also lost 
one Son, Oscar, who died in infancy. Mrs. 
Hagstrom was a most estimable lady, de- 
\'oted to her family and faithful in her friend- 
ships, and her loss was greatly mourned 
throughout the community as well as in her 
immediate household. 

In his political views !Mr. Hagstrom is 
an earnest Republican, whose study of the 
questions and issues of the dav has led him 
to the belief that the Republican platform 
contains the best elements of good govern- 
ment. He is (|uite acti\-e and inilnential in 
local i)oIitical circles and has ser\'ed as 
school insjjcctor and bighwav commissioner. 
I I!c has also taken an acti\e ]KU't in church 



424 



WEXFORD COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



wovk ami is a member (jf tlic Swedish Mis- 
sion cliurcli (jf Clam Lake, contrilmting lib- 
erally to its support and putting forth ef- 
iVctixc effort for its growth and progress. 
In all business affairs he is thoroughly re- 
liable and his word is as good as his bond, 
his life standing in exemplification of the 
fact that "Sweden is tiie home of the honest 
man." Wexford county lias found him a 
valu.iblc citizen and his man}' excellent 
Iniits of character, his freedom from ostenta- 
lion. his genial manner and genuine worth, 
render him piii)ular with a large circle of 
friends. 

* ■ » 

JOHN H. .M.WXIXG. 

It requires a master mind to rise superior 
to utila\or;il)lc en\ironment and become a 
leader in large aiul important industrial en- 
terprises. 'i"he necessary ability lo accom- 
plish such results is possessed in a marked 
degree Ijy John II. Manning, who has long 
been identified with the lumber interests of 
Michigan and is now one of the leading 
men of Cadillac, holding as he does a coni- 
ni;inding position with one of the city's lead- 
ing industries. He is a typical western man, 
of clear mind, tireless energy, unfaltering 
]]erse\'erance. keen discrimination and ab- 
soUitc reliability in e\cr\ relation of life, 
lew ha\e accomplished as much as he in 
the same length of time and it is fitting in 
this connection that an outline of his career 
be given, as his many friends and ac(|uain- 
l.ances in Cadillac and throughout the state 
will no doubt gladly jjcruse the record. 

Mr. Manning's father was John H. 
Maiming, a successful farmer and lumber- 
man of Monroe count\, Michiean, who died 



5-ome years ago. in the townshi]) of London, 
that county, at the age of seventy-four. 
I'.mily I'lNerett. who becaiue the wife of 
John 11. Manning, spent the great part of 
her life in the above county and died there 
at the early age of thirty-seven, leaving a 
family of eight children, the subject of this 
re\iew' being the tifth in order of birth. 

Uexerting to tjie personal history of 
John H. Maiming, whose name intr<iduces 
this sketch, it is learned that he was born 
I'ebruary X. 1831, in .Monroe county, this 
state, and tliat he sjient his childhood and 
youtli to his thirteenth year on the home 
farm in London township. Like the ma- 
jority of country boys, he was early sent to 
the district .schools where he prosecuted his 
studies of winter seasons and spent the 
other months of the year at various kinds of 
farm labor, having early been taught those 
ini])ortant lessons of industry and thrift 
wiiich had such a potent influence in mould- 
ing his character and shaping his future 
Course of action. Mr. Manning was a mere 
lad w hen the great Civil war broke out and 
he had a burning passion to enter the ser- 
vice of his country, but his youth prevented 
him from carrying this laudable desire into 
immediate effect. When only thirteen, 
however, an opportunity presented itself by 
means of which he succeeded in entering the 
government service as a luember of the First 
i^egiment of Mechanics and Engineers from 
Michigan. In this capacity he accompanied 
the regiment to Georgia, where it was at- 
tached to the army under (ieneral Shenuan, 
and he reached the scene of action in time to 
t.akc part, under that distinguished cmn- 
nruider. in tlic celebrated march to tiie 
se.a. After remaining in the employ of the 
government abnut ihrci' mmUbs lie w;is 



V/EXFORD COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



425 



honuraljly discharged fmm tlic serxice and. 
returning home at once, resumed farming cm 
the home place, devoting the w inters as for- 
merly to school work. \\ hen sixteen years 
old he severed home ties and started out to 
make his own way, engaging first as a saw- 
mill hand in his own county, where he 
labored during the ensuing three years. At 
the exi)iratiiin of that time he entered the 
employ of a lumljer manufacturer at Saginaw 
where he worked in the mills during the 
summer of 1871, and the following year 
went to Coleman where he was similarly en- 
gaged until the latter part of 1872. Air. 
Manning's next engagement was at E\art 
where, with the exception of spending one 
}, ear as superintendent of the shingle mill in 
the city of Farwell, he worked from the 
spring of 1873 to '^'"'^ f^" of 1878. Leav- 
ing E\art, he accepted the sui)erintendency 
of a large saw-mill at l<'ar\vell and after 
serving in that capacit\- until April, 1884, 
resigned his position and entered into part- 
nership, at Hersv, with Rohert Hall, the 
company thus constituted becoming the 
largest lumber hrm in that town. After 
lasting about three years and doing a very 
nourishing business, the firm of Hall & Man- 
ning was dissolved, the latter dis])osing of 
his interest in the concern in 1888. In 
February of that year Mr. Manning- came 
to Cadillac and entered the employ of Dig- 
gins Brothers as superintendent of their 
large lumber mills, the duties of which re- 
sponsible position he discharged in an able 
and satisfactory manner until September, 
1895, when he resigned for the purpose of 
becoming superintendent of the Cadillac 
Handle Company, being still manager of this 
l.irge and flourishing enterprise. 

i'rom the foregoing outline of a \ery ac- 



ti\'e and successful career it will be seen 
lliat Ah". Manning has lilled worthilv se\era.l 
important trusts, in all of which he demon- 
strated business and executive ability of a 
high order, discharging e\'ery duty credit- 
ably and fully meriting the confidence re- 
posed in him bv his employers. His ad- 
\ancements from an humble station to the 
C(.immanding position he now holds as prac- 
tical manager of one of the leading indus- 
trial enterprises in this part of the state have 
Ijeen continuous, ■ each successive change 
leading to something higher and more re- 
sponsible, the firms which he left parting re- 
luctantly with his services, others eagerly 
accepting him as the one best c^ualilied to 
bring their industries to the highest possible 
standard of efficiency. 

On the 13th day of September, 1876, at 
Mt. Morris, Cenesee county, Michigan, Mi'. 
Mannin.g was united in marriage with Miss 
Ida E. Mann, daughter of Daniel and Sarah 
(Van Xatten) !\Iann. Mrs. ^Manning is a 
nati^•e of Branch county, Michigan, and has 
borne her husliand children as follows: 
Txlyrtle, wife of William Hoag; Lee, Bessie, 
John, Leo, Erma and Daniel. Mr. Man- 
ning has been a member of the board of ])ub- 
lic works at Cadillac since 1890 and while a 
resident of Evart he served two years in the 
common council of that cit_\'. Fraternally 
he 1 elongs to Cadillac Lodge, Knights of 
Pvthias, to Lodge Xo. 181. Ancient Order of 
Cnited Workmen, and he is also an active 
worker and leading spirit in the Royal Cir- 
cle of this cit}-. 1 le enjoys the high respect 
;ind warm admiration of the ]ieople of his 
adopted citv, is a forceful factor in all mat- 
ters ]5ertaining to its general welfare and 
stands lorlav one of the leading and inllnen- 
tial business men in a communilx' where 



426 



WEXFORD COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



talent and genuine worth lia\e ever been 
recognized and appreciated at their true 
value. Mr. Manning's lite has been one of 
great activity, attended, as already stated, by 
remarkable business advancements and not a 
little I if liuaucial prosperity, lie is essen- 
tially progressive in all he undertakes and 
endowed with the ability and tact to mould 
circumstances to his will. His success in 
ii\er-riding adverse conditions and rising to 
his present influential and honorable station 
in the world of affairs is such as few attain. 
Of strung convictions, ])usitive character 
and inciirruptil)le integrity, he is deser\edly 
classed with the most intelligent and ener- 
getic of Cadillac's representative men and 
lidlds a permanent place in the hearts uf his 
fellnw citizens. 



HF.XRV HAXSEX. 



The men of force and capacity who take 
strong hold of the rugged conditions of life 
and mold them to their will are entitled to 
all honor among their fellow men. not onl_\' 
tor the iiidixidual trium])hs they win but 
also for the fruitful potencies awakened and 
inspired b\- their examples. To the complex 
fabrics ot our American social life nearly 
every civilized nation on the face of the 
globe has contributed its quota, and here we 
have many of the sturdy sons of the far 
Xorscland who have come to our hosi)itable 
shores and bv personal effort won for them- 
selves success and prestige. One of tliis 
number is Mr. Hansen, who is an honored 
citizen of Cadillac, and who is at 
the present time incumbent of the 
office of register of deeds of Wexford 
countv. 



Henry Hansen is a native of Denmark, 
w here he was born on the 1 7th of September. 
1848, being a son of Hans and Johanna M. 
Rassmussen, representatives of staunch ohl 
Danish stock. He was reared to the 
age of sexenteen years in his native land, 
where he receixed his early education- 
al discipline, and he then severed the home 
ties and valiantly set forth to seek his 
fortunes in .America, whither he came 
alone and as a \ eritable stranger in a strange 
land. Air. Hansen disembarked in the port 
of Xew \'ork city in the month of .\i)ril, 
1867, ;md thence made his way westward 
l(j Champaign county. Illinois, where he se- 
cured employment on a farm, and to this 
line of work he continued to devote his at- 
tention, in different counties of that state, 
for a period of five years, while he also work- 
ed at mining for two years, having a deep 
respect for honest toil and never hesitating 
to turn his attention to any honest employ- 
ment he could secure, while he spared no ef- 
fort to advance himsek' in the knowledge of 
the FInglish language and the customs of the 
country which he had adopted as a home. 
From Illinois he went to Denver, Colorailo, 
where he was emi)loyed as a lumber in- 
spector for one and a half years, in the 
meanwhile passing six months in the mining 
districts of the state, .\fter leaving Colo- 
rado Mr. Hansen returned to Denmark, 
where he continued to reside for the ensu- 
ing seven years, at the expiration of which 
he came again to the United States, locating 
in Wexford county in 1S81 and here seciu'- 
ing em])loyment as a conunon laborer in the 
lumber woods, where he remained about 
;-ix months, after which he w;is in the em- 
ploy of the Cnnnner Lumber Company for 
aljout the same length of time. .\t the e.K- 




H. HANSEN. 



ll'EXFORD COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



427 



piration of tliis incumbency he secured a 
clerksliip in the law and insurance office of 
Rose\-elt & Christensen, in Carhlhic, remain- 
ing with this firm aljout two years and gain- 
ing" vahiahle experience and knowledge. 
Thereafter he was in the employ of E. E. 
Haskins for six months and then passed two 
years as a clerical assistant in the law and 
insurance oftice of Hon. Clyde C. Chittenden. 
!\Ir. Hansen then resumed work in connec- 
tion with the lumljering industry, securing 
employment in a sawmill at Grayling", 
where he remained about six months, at the 
ex])iration of which he returned to Cadillac 
and secured the position of assistant post- 
master, of which he remained incumbent for 
two years, after which he was variously em- 
ployed until 1890, when he was appointed 
tleputy count}" clerk and deputy register of 
deeds for Wexford county, under Samuel 
J. W'ah, with whom he remained about six 
years. 

In the autumn of 1896 Air. Hansen 
was elected to the office of county clerk, (jn 
the Republican ticket, and ga\'e sij capable 
and satisfactory an administration that at 
the expiration of his term of four years lie 
was made the candidate of his party 
for the office of register of deeds, 
lieing electetl by a gratifying majority 
in the autumn of 1900 and being now in 
tenure of the office, w"hile he has pro\ed him- 
self well worthy of the confidence and trust 
reposed in him b\' the people of the count}". 
Mr JIansen has gixen a staunch allegiance 
to the h'epublican ])artv and has been an ac- 
ti\e and inlluenti.'d factor in its local ranks, 
while as an oflicial and a citizen he enjoys 
un(|ualified confidence and esteem in the com- 
munity in w"hich he li."is won ])reslige and 
success through well directed and honor- 



aljle effort, being essentially the architect of 
his own fortunes. Fraternally he is iden- 
tified with the Gotha Lodge No. 5, of the 
Sw"edish I'nited Sons of America, and with 
Cadillac Tent No. 21,2. Knights of the 
Alaccabees. 

In the city of Cadillac, on the ist of 
August, 1885, Mr. Hansen was united in 
marriage to Miss Johanna Eng, who was 
born in Norway, and they are the parents of 
three children, Ingeborg M., H. Paul and 
Donald E. 

*->-*■ 

JOHN KLUSS. 

There haye come to America from other 
countries many men of limited financial re- 
sources, but who were imbued with a 
sturdy independence and a laudable ambition 
to succeed. They haye taken advantage of 
the wiinderful possibilities afforded here and 
gradually, step by step, have accuinulated 
|)roperty and risen to places of prominence 
in Ijusiness circles. The career of the sul>- 
ject of this re\"iew. John Kluss, of Haring 
township, illustrates uKJSt forcililv the pos- 
sibilities that are open to a man who pos- 
sesses intelligence and integritx". It proves 
that success is not a thing to be inherited, 
but to lie won by sheer force of energy, di- 
rected 1 and controlled by correct moral 
j)rinci])les. It also i)ro\"es that neither 
wealth or social ])osition, nor the assistance 
of inlluential frien(U. are aKva\s requisite to 
l>lacing an indixidual on the high road to 
prosperity and honor;ible station. 

John Kluss, whose farm is ]);n"t of sec- 
tion 7,4. I laring towiishi]), is a native of 
(ienuan}. lie w;is born August 7, 1847, 
aud w;!s re.ired and educ;ited in his na- 



428 



WRXFORD COUXTV. MICHIGAX. 



ti\e land. Having grown to nianliood there. 
iiiilitarv duty was reciuircd of him. as it is 
from ah other (jerman yiniihs. without re- 
gard til rank ur station, wiio liave tht phys- 
ical strengtli to be received into the service. 
Three years of his early manhood were spent 
in the German army, wliich period included 
the Franco-Prussian war of 1870-71, in 
which he served during the greater part of 
the war. .After the conclusion of his mili- 
tary service he returned to his home in C.er- 
manv and engaged in farming until 1883. 
when he migrated to .\merica. Me lirst set 
foot on American soil in the city of Xew 
York and came direct to W'e.xford county. 
Michigan, where he was not long in secur- 
ing employment with the Grand Rapids & 
Indiana Railway Company and for thirteen 
years faithfully served them in various 
capacities, h'rom a portion of the savings 
of those years he purchased twenty acres of 
land, a ]iart of section 34, Haring town- 
ship. Aiintlicr ])urcliase<l increased the 
size of his realt\' holdings ni that t(_iwnship 
to si.\t\' acres. thirt\'-eight acres of whicii is 
well improved, tillable, with good l)uil(lings 
and other necessar\- appurtenances. On 
severing his connection with the railroad 
company, he established his home on this 
land, where he has resided since. 

Before leaving Germany for America, on 
the 5th day of November. 1871. John Kluss 
was united in m.irriagc to Miss Ahu'_\' W'ink- 
elman. ;i girl who was nuted tm" good judg- 
ment and many sterling virtues. On the 
\ovagc to -\merica she accompanied him 
and in all the labor in which he has engaged 
since locating here she has been to him all 
that a good, true .and noble wife should be. 
Especially in liie ni.iknig of the home and 
the care of their children has she shown 



those matronly qualities which make 
wouianbood and motherhood so worthy of 
admiraticjn. ,\ good wife is one of the 
best gifts God ever bestowed upon a poor 
man and the \\\\\ truth of this saying has 
manv times been realized by John Kluss. 
With his well-known industry and untiring- 
energy has lieen coupled her thrift and 
economy, (jualities which when coml^ined in 
one household neutralizes even the gravest 
misfortunes. They are the parents of three 
children. .August. Fred and Mary. .August 
makes his h, mie with his parents, and is a 
farmer, b'red, who is a carpenter and joiner, 
married Miss Grace Rudolph and they reside 
in Oakland. California. Mary is at home. 

WMiile by no means aspiring to be a politi- 
cian and too busy with his labors on his 
f.irm to give politics much attention, Mr. 
Kluss has Ijeen honored by the voters of his 
township with a number of official positions 
in the municipal government. The success 
which has attended his laliors in .America 
clearly indicates what may be aconiplished 
1)\' anv one jjossessed of industry, economy 
and integritv. whether they be natives of this 
republic or citizens by adoption. 



W.ARREX SE.AAJAX. 

Wexford county is characterized by her 
full share of the honored pioneer element. 
who ha\c done so nuich for the develop- 
ment of this country and the establishment 
of the institutions of civilization in this 
fertile and well faxored section. The bio- 
gra])hical sketches in this volume are largely 
of this class of useful citizens and it is not in 
the least too early to record in print the 
])rincii):d items in the lives of these h.ird- 



WEXFORD COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



429 



working and honest people, giving honor to 
wliom honor is cine. They will soon be gone 
and the past can ha\e no better history or 
menieiitd than these records., 

Warren Seaman, the snbject of this re- 
view, was born in C'attaraugus county, New 
York, on a farm. May i6, 1S34. His 
parents were John and Lucretia (Wyllys) 
•Seaman, the former a nati\e of Ulster 
conntv. New \'ork, while the latter was 
born in Massachusetts. They came to 
Michigan in 1842, located in Hillsdale ctmn- 
iy, and ten years later, in 1832, moved to 
Muskegon cnuntv, locating at tasnovia, 
where thev remained until their deaths, 
she at eighty-eight years of age, and he 
at the age of ninety-three years. They 
were the parents of eleven children, of whom 
Warren, the subject of this review, was the 
fifth. 

When Warren Seaman first \iewed tlie 
pine-c];id hills nf Michigan he was only eight 
years old. During the ten years of the 
family's residence in Hillsdale ci)unt\' he v,as 
occupied most of the time in the woods, the 
clearing and on the farm. A portion of 
ihe time he attended such schools as the 
commonwealth afforded in the locality, and 
managed, through persistent efforts, to se- 
cure a fair education. In 1855, about the 
time that he attained his majority, he mo\-ed 
to a farm near Big Rapids where he engaged 
in agricultural pursuits and luml)ering. '1 his 
lie continued until May. 1869, when he came 
to Wevford county and settled on the farm 
in Cedar ("reck townshi]) where he now re- 
sides and \\ hich has been his residence con- 
tinuously for thirty-four years. He entered 
the land as a homestead, eight}' acres in ex- 
tent, and upon it hnilt a log house. i,:Uer 
he iinrchased forty acres contiguous to his 



homestead, which gi\es him a farm of one 
hundred and twenty acres in one body. 
Since then the log house has been replaced 
liy a neat, commodious frame house and the 
other tarm buildings have been improved in 
accordance therewith. Eighty acres of the 
tract have been cleared, are well cultivated 
and exceedingly productive. A fine, bear- 
ing orchard of ten acres in e.xtent, containing 
over five hundred trees, adds largely to the 
receipts of the place. There are about two 
hundred peach trees, one hundred plum trees 
and one hundred pear trees, the remainder 
being apple trees. The fruit is all of the 
finest and most desirable varieties. 

At Casno\ia, Muskegon county, Michi- 
gan, September 16, 1835, Warren Seaman 
was united in marriage to Miss Mary E. 
iNloore, a native of Ohio, born October 7, 
1838. She is the daughter of Drayton H. 
and Zilpha S. (Loumis) Moore, both na- 
ti\es of Massachusetts. Pie died at Cas- 
no\ia when seventy-three years of age, 
while s!ie is still a resident of that place, be- 
ing aged about eighty-seven years. To Mr. 
and Mrs. Seaman five children have been 
born. \iz. : Zelplia L., Judd J., Sylvester 
R.. Drayton W. and Mary Ella. Zeipha 
died in infancv and Mary Ella is the wife 
John W. Hubbell. 

The people of Cedar Creek township 
ha\c honored W^arren Seaman with various 
local offices. He has served as supervisor 
seven years, justice of the peace four years 
and higli\va\ conimissioiier several terms. 
Public matters of all kinds, but |)articiil;irly 
those relating to the locality in which he 
resides, always command his attention. In 
jiolitics he is disposed to i)e independent, but 
generalh- .acts with the Republican party. 
I le and his wife .are adherents of the Metho- 



430 



WEXFORD COUNTY. .MICHIGAN. 



ilist Episcopal cliurch and in liis younger 
(lays lie was quite active in the cause of re- 
ligion. Fie has a happy home, a noble fam- 
ily and line of the finest farms in the 
ci uinty. Contentment reigns over his house- 
In ild and domestic peace is a constant guest, 
riic day of trial is past and in its place has 
come rest and enjoyment, a most welcome 
c'liangc. Manv cither changes als(.) ha\e 
been brought about since the country's 
early settlement. One in particular com- 
mands especial notice. When Warren Sea- 
man first located in Cedar Creek township, 
thirty-fonr years ago, the nearest postoffice 
was Sherman, seventeen miles away. At 
the present time rural deli\ery is an estab- 
I'shed fact in Wexford county and mail is 
delivered each day at the expense of the 
go\ernment, at the door of the family resi- 
dence. TiuK: \\(irks wonderful clianges 
e\'er\'wbere. but now here sn nnicli as in the 
new countries, settled n\) within the l.'st 
iiftv or si\l\' vears. 



CKORCiE ALLEX. 

Success in this life comes to the deserv- 
ing. It is an a.xiom demonstrated by all 
human ex])erience. that a man gets out of 
this life what he i)uts into it, iilus a reasun- 
Jible interest im the inxestnient. I he individ- 
ual who inherits a large estate and adds 
nothing to his fortune cannot be called a suc- 
cessful man. He that falls heir to a large 
fortune and increases its \'alne is successfid 
in proportion to the anioinit he adds to his 
jxissession. I'ut the man whu starts in the 
wiirld unaided and bv sheer turce of will. 
Controlled b\ correct ])rinciples. forges ahead 



and at length reaches a position of honor 
among his fellow citizens achieves success 
such as representatives of the two former 
classes can neither understand nor appre- 
ciate. To a considerable e.xtent the sub- 
ject of this sketch is a creditable representa- 
tive of the class last named, a class which has 
furnished much of the bone and sinew of the 
country and added tti the stability of the 
go\'ernment autl its institutions. 

George .Mien, the popular and accommo- 
dating proprietor uf one of the leading li\ery 
stables of Cadillac, Wexiurd county, Michi- 
gan, was born in the township of Etiliocoke, 
county of \'iirk, ])rii\ince of Ontario, 
Canada, the date of his l)irth being the 9th 
t)f January. 1S48. His parents were 
Thomas and Margaret .Mien, the father a 
native of Xo\'a Scotia and the mother of 
Yorkshire, England. The subject of this 
sketch was reared upon the parental farm- 
stead and was early iniu'ed to the bard toil 
and labor incident to the life <if rm .agricultur- 
ist. He attended the schools of bis neigh- 
borhood and received a fair education, 
remaining at home until be reached 
his twenty-second year. .\t that age he 
left his nati\e couiury and came to the 
United States, locating at Cedar Springs. 
Kent countv. Michigan, where for about a 
year be was employed in a lumber yard, 
Ucmoxing at the end of that time to .Morley. 
Mecosta county, this state, he entered the 
employ of Cummer & Son. the extensive lum- 
ber manufacturing firm. He remainetl at 
Morley for several years and then, abotit 
1878. was transferred to Cadillac, where he 
remained in the em])loy of the same firm un- 
til .\o\eniber, i8()8, the long ])eriod of 
thirl V years" emi)loyment by one fnni icsti- 
fviu" to his faith fidness and efliciencv as an 



WEXFORD COUNTY. MICHIGAN. 



431 



cnipl(i\cc. L'pon leaving the em]ilny df tlie 
I'unimtTs, Mr. Allen engaged in business cm 
liis own account, o])ening' a livery stable in 
Cadillac, wliicb he has since conducted. 
His enterprise at once met with the appro\al 
of the general public, which has given him 
its patronage to a gratifying extent. Mr. 
.\llen has a well equipped stable, containing 
.stylish. u])-to-dale turn-outs of every descrip- 
tion, as well ;is the heavier style of x-ehicles 
for transportation, and his stalls are occu- 
pied bv a number of hue horses. Mr. 
Allen's evident desire to please his customers 
and his ability to provide any accommoda- 
tions desired in his line have brought to him 
a well-deserved patronage and he has ac- 
quired a splendid reputation throughout this 
section of the county. 

George Allen was married at Sutton. 
Ontario. Canada, on the: u)th of M:iy. 1873, 
to Miss Mary .\.nn Mossington. a native of 
that province, born in 1840. and the daugh- 
ter of ;\Iark and Elizabeth (Comer) Moss- 
ington. This union has been blessed by the 
birth of one daugliter. Ada M.. who is now 
tlie wife of Walter Ivysor. Mrs. Allen is a 
])leasant. intelligent lady, possessed of strong- 
traits of character, and has proven to her 
husband a heliHiiatc in the truest sense of 
the term. I'ohtically Mr. Allen is a Reinibli- 
can and has e\-er taken a keen interest in the 
success of his partv and in the ad\ancemeni 
of all movements having for their ol)ject 
the advancement of the interests of his city 
and count V, I'or six consecuti\c }'ears he 
served as a meniber of t4ie city coimcil and 
in that body won an enviable reputation for 
his earnest and untiring efforts to elevate 
the standing of his city along all lines. Mrs. 
.Mien and her daughter are faithful and con- 
sistent juembers of the Congregational 



church, to which the subject contributes 
liberally, braternalh' Mr. Allen is a Mason, 
hokling membership in Big Rapiels Lodge 
\o. 171 and also in the chapter at Cadillac. 
He also belongs to Cadillac Lodge Xo. 24<;. 
lnde])endent Order of Odd Fellows. Mr. 
Allen has in all the relations of life proven 
himself equal to the responsibilities which 
liavc been thrown u])on him and because of 
his man_\- sterling (|ualities he has won the 
regard of the entire community. His career 
lias lieen one of unceasing activity and it 
])resents much that is ]ileasing as well as 
profitable to young men just starting out 
in life. 



W. E. SOUTHWICK. 

This enterprising farmer and representa- 
tive citizen is a native of Kalamazoo county, 
Michigan, horn on a farm in \\'akeshma 
township. March 9, 1861. His father was 
Elijah B. South wick, and his mother before 
her marriage Iiore the maiden name of Har- 
riett Brown. These parents lived for many 
vears in the above county, but in the spring 
of 1884 disposed of their possessions there 
and moved to the county of Wexford, .set- 
tling in Wexford township, where they 
spent the remainder of their days, the father 
dving at the age of eighty-two and the moth- 
er when sixty-eight years old. \\'. E. 
Southwick was rearetl to agricultural pur- 
suits, received a fair education in the i)ublic 
.schools, and with the exception oi al«)ut 
two vears s))ent in the county of St. Joseph, 
this state, lived in Kalamazoo county until 
his removal, in January. 1884. to the county 
of Wexford. On coming to this county he 
purchased one hundred and sixty acres in 



432 



I TEX FORD COUXTY, MICHIGAX. 



section 27, Wexford townsliip. and (.)n tliis 
lie has since lived with the exception of one 
\ear. devoting his time and energies to the 
improvement of liis land, being now the pos- 
sessor of <ine (if tlie most productive as well 
as one ui tlie nmst vrduahle farms in his part 
of the country, lie has g(">d Iniildings and 
has si)ared no labor or pains in surrounding 
himself with comforts and conveniences, his 
home being beautiful and attractive, and he 
is now well situated to enjoy the many 
material blessings which his labors have 
earned. 

Mr. Southwick was married in Wexford 
l<)wnship, April 25, 1897. to Miss Bertha L. 
■ Hill, who was born June 14. 1877, in St. 
Joseph county. Michigan, the daughter of 
Henry C. and Luella .\. (Smalley) Hill. 
.Mrs. Southwick is the oldest of a family of 
three children, her parents still living in 
Wexford townshi]) where they settled in 
i8()7. moving here from ( irand Traverse 
county. 

Mr. Southwick has taken an active in- 
terest in the affairs of his community, having 
been honored by his fellow citizens with sev- 
eral ])ositions of trust, including that of 
township supervisor and school inspector. 
Some years ago he made a tri]i to the far 
west and spent considerable lime in the state 
of Washington, besides traveling over other 
states and territories and visiting many jjlaces 
of natural and historic interest. He is a man 
of broad views and ])rogressive ideas, highly 
esteemed by his neighbors and fellow citi- 
zens, being always ready to grant any favors 
within his power to bestow and showing a 
willingness to assist any worthy_ enterprise 
for the material advancement or moral good 
of the community. l'"raternally he is a 
member of the order of Free and Accepted 



Masons, belonging to Sherman Lodge No. 
372, at Sherman. In closing this brief re- 
view suffice it to state that Mr. Southwick is 
a worthy example of sterling American cit- 
izenship, the product of o\u- sjjlendid pul)lic 
school svstem and the sturdy farm life, 
sources from which have sprung much of 
the moral bone and sinew of the great north- 
west. Enter])rising, energetic and fulh' ali\e 
to the (|uestions of the hour, with an in- 
clination t(.) ])erform his cixic duties from 
conscientious motives and with a due re- 
gard for the rights and privileges of others, 
he attends strictly to his own affairs, at the 
same time losing sight of self in his laudable 
endeavors to promote the welfare of his fel- 
low men. With no amljition for public dis- 
tinction, he has settled down to the quiet en- 
joyment of life and possessing the esteem of 
all with whom he has relations of any kind, 
liis future is bright with the promise of a 
long and useful career. 



HL'MPHREY W. ^^LLER. 

The best title one can establish to the 
high and generous esteem of a community 
is a i)rotracted and honorable residence in 
its midst. Mankind is generally fair and 
just in its judgments. An unusual event may 
I sway it for a time, but when normal condi- 
tions are again resumed a just judgment is 
certain to follow. It is possible to gull the 
public, but it is impossible to keep it gulled. 
.\s sure as fate, true conditions will event- 
ually prevail and then the true public judg- 
ment is inevitable. It is for this reason that 
a man is jiidged rather by what his neighliors 
think of him than anything he may have 
said or done. When a coinn desires to find 



WEXFORD COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



433 



out whetlier or not a witness is trnthful, it 
it asl<s what the person's reputation is for 
truth in the neighborhood in whicii he hves 
The law co'rectly estimates that tlie judg- 
ment of tlie pulilic is almost invariably in- 
fallible. Judged by this measure, the sub- 
ject of this re\iew. Humphrey W. Miller, 
must necessarily l)e a man of the strictest in- 
tegrity. ]n the community where he resides 
he has made his home for nearly tliiVtv-two 
years — almost a generation. His residence 
therein has certainly been a protracted one 
and that it has been an honorable one is well 
esta1)lished by the high regard in which he 
is held by all who have known him for so 
many years. 

Humphrey \\|. Miller, a resident of sec- 
tion 30, Selma township, is a native of Ohio, 
born in Fulton county. September 4. 1848. 
His parents were Humphrey and Catharine 
(Hamilton) Miller, also natives of Ohio. 
The father died while the subject was yet 
an infant and some time thereafter his moth- 
er became the wife of Charles Blackman. 
In 1850 the family moved to Cass county, 
Michigan, but remained only a short time, 
when they moved to Jasper county. Illinois. 
where they remained three years. In 1853 
they again returned to Michigan and located 
in Pipestone township. Berrien county, 
wh.ere Humphrey W. Miller grew to man- 
hood and received a good coiumon school 
education. In March. iHj-', he came to 
Wexford county, secured a tract of laud, 
part of section 30. Selma township, and 
there he has since resided. One year of the 
time, however, was spent in Cadillac, where 
he was engaged in the manufacture of brick. 
He is the owner of one hundred and twenty 
acres of land in section ;o. one hundred acres 



of which arc cleared, well improved and un- 
der cultivation. 

In Berrien ccninty, Michigan. September 
5. 1869. Humphrey W. Miller was united 
in marriage to Miss Jennie Murphy, a na- 
ti\e of Michigan, born in Pipestone town- 
ship. Berrien county, January i, 1854. Her 
parents were George and Catharine (Have- 
ner) Murphv. The father was a soldier of 
the Ci\il war and lost his life in defense of 
his country. To Mr. and Mrs. Humphrey 
W. Miller two children were born, viz: 
Frank W. and Rose C. The latter gradu- 
ated from the Mt. Pleasant State Normal in 
the class of 1903 and has been a successful 
teacher for eight years in Wexford county. 
Frank is foreman for Anderson & McCoy, 
lumbermen at South Bordman, Michigan. 

Being an old resident of Selma t(->wnship. 
hax'ing watched its growth and development 
almost from its earliest settlement, it is only 
natural that Mr. Miller should be deeply in- 
terested in all that concerns its material wel- 
fare. He has been its treasurer and was a 
school ofticer almost from the time that 
school districts were organized within its 
borders. Fie served for years as one of its 
justices of the peace and is still counseled 
with by his neighlK)rs and fellow citizens on 
matters of business and all affairs which per- 
tain to the law. He is a luember of the Ma- 
sonic fraternity, actively interested in the 
work of the order an<l has ad\-anced through 
the various degrees to that of Royal Arch 
and Knight Templar. He is also a very act- 
i\e member of the Patrons of Husbandry. 
His standing in the community is an envia- 
ble one. made so by the uniform intelligence, 
integrity and kindness with which all who 
come in contact with him are treated. From 



434 



IVEXl-ORD COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



a \crv insignificant 1)eginnin|L;'. I)\- native in- 
(lustr\- he lias accnniulated a cnniiJCtencv. 
rearetl a noble family and all his life has con- 
ducted liimself in a manner to win the ap- 
])rn\al. respect and cnnlidcnce of his lellow- 
men. 

♦-•-♦ ■ 

I 
CHAI-iLES J. CARLSON. 

Charles J. Carlson, who is engaged in 
general farming" on section 32, Clam Lake 
township, was l)orn in Sweden, on the 26th 
of January, 1861, his parents being Charles 
H. and Johanna (Johanson) Carlson, both 
of whom were natives of Sweden and are 
now residents of Osceola county. Micliigan. 
When the subject of this review was but 
twehe years of age he came witii his luother 
to Nmerica, the father ha\ing crossed the 
Atlantic in the previous \ear. In 1S73 they 
settled in Cadillac, Wexford county, and in 
187J removed to Sherman township, Osceo- 
la county, where they have since resided, Mr. 
Carlson being identified with agricultural in- 
terests there. Cnto him and his wife were 
born eight children, but the\- lost four of 
that nuniiber in infancv and one. John .\1- 
frcd. wa? accidentally killed. Charles J. Carl- 
son of this review is the oldest of the three 
who are yet living. He continued under the 
])arental roof up to the time of his marriage. 
He obtained a common school education in 
his \onth and became familiar with fariu 
work in its \arious departments, as he aided 
his father in the labors of field and meadow. 
The occupation to which he was reared he 
chose as a life work and has become a pro- 
gressive farmer, well known in ihecomnnmi- 
ty in w Inch he makes his home. 

Jt was on the _'()th of December. 188s, 



that Mr. Carl.son was united in marriage to 
Miss Xellie Peter.son. a daughter of Swen 
J. and Stena Lena (Johanson) Peterson, 
well-known residents of Clam Lake township, 
who came to this country from Sweden. 
Mrs. Carlson was also born in that land, her 
natal day being September 14, i860. She 
was a )"oung lady of nineteen years when she 
came to America and here she gave her hand 
in marriage to Mr. Carlson, .\fter the mar- 
riage Mr. Carlson was employed in a shin- 
gle-mill at Muskegon for about five years, 
liut in 1 89 1 he settled upon the farm which 
has since been his home. It is located on 
section 32, Clam Lake township, where he 
has erected a good home, built in 1901. 
Here he owns one hundrecl, acres of land and 
alreaih' he-has ])laced under cultivation forty 
acres of this tract. He labors untiringly and 
in a manner to ])roduce good results and 
his farm is becoming one of the valuable 
countrv places of W^exford count}'. 

The hon-e of Mr. and Mrs. Carlson has 
been blessed with six children: Clyde H., 
Edgar W., Esther M.. Edith M.. Ruth \'. 
and Helen K. In his political \iews Mr. 
t/arlson is an earnest l\e])ulilican, who keeps 
well informed on the issues of the da\- and 
does all in his power to ])roniole the growth 
and insiu'c the success of his jiarty. He has 
held the office of treasurer of L'lam Lake 
township for two terms ;uid from the 
spring of 1899 until the sj^ring of 1903 
lie was justice of the jieace. In the dis- 
ch.irge of his duties in that position he man- 
ifested marked impartiality, basing his de- 
cisions ui)on the evidence and the equity of 
the case. He is wideh' known as a man of 
honor.able ])tu'pose who is reliable in his busi- 
ness affairs and trustwdi'tln- in all public 
positions. His fricnils and famih' find hiiu a 




C. J. CARLSON GROUP. 



WEXFORD COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



435 



considerate ami kinill\' C(inv])aiiinn ; he is re- 
garded as (iiie (if the leadini^' and prunnnent 
citizens of Wexford connty, and it i^ 
tlierefore witli pleasure that the record of his 
career is here presented. Mr. and Mrs. 
Carlson are ;idherents to the Swedish Mis- 
sic.in church. 



SANFOKD G.\SSER. 

Few men are more prominent or more 
widely knuwn in the enter]:)risiug town of 
Sherman than Sanford Gasser. He is an 
important factor in business circles here and 
his poi)ularity is well deserved as in him are 
embraced the characteristics of unabating 
energy, unbending integrity and an industry 
that never dags. He is public-spirited and 
thoroughly interested in whatever tends to 
]iromote the welfare of the community and 
Sherman has profited 1)V his labors in her be- 
half. He is now engaged in the loan and in- 
^urance business and he has lumber interests 
in the state which bring to him a good 
financial return. 

Mr. Ciasser is a natixe of Oliio. his birth 
liasing iiccm-red in Sandusky count)', on the 
1st nf August, 1S41, his parents being 
JJenetlict and Caroline (.\lberts) Gasser. 
Throughout his business career the father 
carried on agricultural pursuits and he is 
now living a retired life in Sleulien county, 
Indiana, ha\ing reached an adxanced age. 
I lis wife died in .\ngola, Steuben ciiuntv, 
when eighty years of age. In their family of 
nine children Sanford Gasser was the eldest. 
He was only two years of age wdien his par- 
ents removed to Steuben county, Indiana, 
.settling in the midst of the beautiful lake re- 
gion of that section of the state, their home 



being on a farm abnut two and a half miles 
from Angola and near I'igenn lake. There 
Sanford Gasser was reared, remaining in 
that locality until tweiity-twt) years of age, 
during which time he attended the public 
schools, assisted in the farm work and en- 
joyed the pleasures of fishing and other en- 
joyments such as the neighborhood afforded. 
He then came to Mecosta county, Michigan, 
and for a few years during the winter seasons 
was engaged in hunting and trapping, which 
he found very protitable, for owing to the 
unsettled condition of that portion of the 
state much game still abounded there. He 
made his headquarters at Big Rapids and 
from his traps and as the result of his skill 
as a marksman he brought home rich pri- 
zes from the forests. In the summer seasons 
he would employ men and make his way up 
the Muskegon ri\er, poling his canoe and 
and carrying with him provisions for three 
iir four months. Proceeding to the govern- 
ment marshes with his hired assistants, he 
would there cut and stack hay, which he 
disposed of to the lumbermen. This work 
he also found to be quite lucrati\e and he 
was thus engaged for four or fwc years. 
Diu'ing that time, as his tinancial resources 
increased, he pnrcha.sed cimsiderable prupcr- 
ly at Big Rapitls, bu}-ing and selling much 
real estate. As his investments were judi- 
ciously made he also realized a good financial 
letnrn in this way. For al)out three years 
he was engaged in conducting a billiard 
hall and restaurant in Big Rapids, but at 
length he disposed of all his interests there 
and came to Wexford county. 

The spring of 1870 witnessed his arrival 
here. He purchased eighty acres of land 
which now comprises Glasser's plat, in the 
village of Sherman. In 1871 he took up his 



436 



IVEXfORD COUXTV, MICHIGAN. 



abode in tliis town, wliere he lias since made 
his liome. He has Ijeen engaged in Iniying 
and selling timber lands and in connection 
w ith t^iis he has also engaged in the insur- 
ance and loan business, in which he has se- 
cured a good clientage. Mr. Classer likewise 
possesses considerable inventive ingenuity 
and has patented a stretcher for men's trou- 
sers, which is a very sim])le but useful Con- 
trivance. 

Mr. (jasser was married in liig Rapids to 
Lucina Smith, a native of .Newaygo. Mich- 
igan, who died in Cranch county, this state. 
On the 30th of Seijtember. 1S72, in Jones- 
\iile. Michigan, was celebrated the marriage 
of Mr. Gasser and Aliss Minerva Wise, who 
was born in Licking county, C~)hio. October 
I. 1843. ^ daughter of Jacob A. and Lydia 
( Stout ) Wise. Three children have been 
born unto the subject and his wife: (iertie. 
the wife of Harry ( ioukcr ; Dora, the wife 
of .Xiel Clark; ;ui(l Wilbert W. In 1900 ^Ir. 
(jasser erected the finest residence in Sher- 
man, it being one of the finest in the entire 
county. It is a beautiful structure, con- 
structed in modern style of architecture and 
tastefully and elegantly furnished, and more- 
over its chief charm is the cordial and gra- 
cinr.s hospitality so freely accorded to the 
many friends of the family. 

E.xercising his right of franchise in sup- 
port of the men and measures of the Republi- 
can party, Mr. (iasser has long been one of 
its advocates and loyal adhereuls. W hen the 
county seat was located at Sherman he 
served as under sherifif for eight years, his 
superior officer being Messrs. Shackleton and 
Weaver, and since then he has acted almost 
continuously as (lejiutv sheriff up to ii)oo. He 
is prominent in couiU\ pdlilics and his o])in- 
ioiis carry weight in llic local councils of his 



p;uty. He is also a staunch advocate of tem- 
I'erance and by example as well as precept 
has furthered this cause. Both he and his 
wife are devoted members of the Methodist 
l-',))iscopal church ami whatever tends to aid 
his fellow men in the building of an honoia- 
blc character receives his endorsement. In 
business affairs he is energetic, prompt and 
notablv reliable. Tireless energy, keen per- 
cc])tion. honesty of purpose, these are his 
chief cliaracteristics. Justice has e.ver been 
m.aint.aiiied by him in his relations with those 
w lioiii he has employed and with those with 
whom lie has had business transactions and 
while he has been watchful of his business 
and of all indications pointing to prosperity, 
his efforts resulting in the acquirement of a 
handsome competence, yet this has not been 
alone the goal for which he has striven, for 
be belongs to that class of representative 
American citizens who promote the general 
l)ros|)erit\' while advancing indi\idual in- 
terests. 



CHARLES W. Dl'TTOX. 

The specific oflice of biography is not to 
gi\e \i)ice to a man's modest opinion of him- 
self and his accom])lishments. but rather to 
leave upi lu record the \erdict establishing his 
cli.iracter by the consensus of opinion on the 
part <.)f those with whom he has been most 
intimateh' associated. In touching upon the 
career of the suliject of this review, the 
writer aims to avoid fulsome encomium and 
extravagant praise: vet he desires to hold up 
for coiisideration those facts which have en- 
tered into the make-up of a useful and hon- 
laablc lil'e. a life characterized by persever- 
• Mice. eiiergv. Iiroad charity and well de- 



WEXFORD COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



437 



fined pui"])ose. To do tin's will be but to 
reiterate the dictum pronounced upon the 
man by the people who have known him long 
and well and who ha\e not been slow to 
recognize his merits and a])preciaie his \;dne 
to the community. 

Charles W. Button, the leading contrac- 
tor and builder of Cadillac, is a native of 
Rochester, New \'()rk. and the son of Harry 
B. and Nancy ( b'lynn ) Dutton, both parents 
iiorn and reared in the Empire st;ite. Harry 
Duttiin was for a number of years quite 
prominent in railway circles and when a 
young man assisted in the C(3nstruction of the_ 
New York Central Railroad, in the employ 
of which he afterwards rose to an important 
official position, that of assistant su])erinlen- 
dent of the middle division. He was 
thorougii in all the details of railroading, 
stood high in the confidence of his superiors 
and devoted the greater part of his life to 
the serxice, making a record for faithfulness 
and efficiency of which any man might well 
feel proud. His home was in Rochester and 
he died in that city at the age of fift3'-two, 
leaving a widow' and four children, the for- 
mer de]iarting this life at the same ])lace 
when si.xty-two years old. Of the six chil- 
dren constituting the family of [-Iar\'ey B. 
and Xancy Dutton, Charles \\'., of this re- 
view, is the youngest. He was born May 
26, 1S53, and after atteniling for some years 
the pulilic schools of his native city and ac- 
(piiring a good education, entered upon an 
;i])])renticeshi]5 to learn carpentr}- and join 
ing, at which he spent four years of faithful 
service. Possessing mechanical ability of 
no mean order, lie soon became an effi- 
cient workman and shortly after com- 
pleting his apprenticeship he sought a field 
for the exercise of his' skill in the new 



and sparsely settled countrv of northern 
Islichigan, locating at Clam L.ike in the sum- 
mer of 1873. During the two years I'ollow 
ing his arrival he worked at carpentry f( ir the 
Harris Brothers and at the expiration oi that 
time returned to New York where he w as en- 
gaged in railroading until 1S77, when he re- 
sumed his chosen calling and again came 
west for the purpose of making Cadillac his 
future ])lace of abode. Mr. Dutton is a 
master of his trade and as a Imilder ranks 
with the ablest and most scientific mechanics 
in his adopted .state. He has taken many 
large contracts in Cadillac and elsewhere, 
most of the beautiful residences, business 
houses and public edifices of this city having 
been erected under his supervision, and his 
skill has frequently been called into requisi- 
tion on important Ijuildings in other cities 
and towns. To him as much perhaps as to 
any one man is the flourishing little city of 
Cadillac indebted for its growth and pros- 
perity along material lines and through the 
medium of his x'ocation he has certainly done 
more to beautify and lend charm to it as a 
place of residence and thus advertise its ad- 
vantages to the world than any other of his 
compeers. He is still actively engaged in 
building, with all the work on hand he can 
possibly do, and not infrequently has he 
been obliged to refuse large and lucrative 
contracts by reason of the volume of pressing 
business demanding his attention. 

Since coming to Cadillac -Mr. Dutton has 
been prominent in the artairs of the town 
and his activity has made him a leader not 
onlv in the matter of material improvement 
but also in the domain of party politics and 
])ublic life. He is an uncom]:)romising Re- 
l.ul)lican and as such was elected city assess- 
or, in addition to which office he was also 



438 



IVEXfORD COUNTY. MICHIGAN. 



supervisor ot' the second wanl tor a mnnl)ef 
of years, discharging-tlie duties of l)i)ili jjosi- 
tions in an al)lc and praiseworthy manner 
-that wiin him llie conhdence nf the pen[)l(.' 
regardless of political preference. 

Like the majority of enterprising, pro- 
gressive men. Mr. Dutton is identified with 
that oldest and uKJSt honoralile of all frater- 
nal organizations, the order of h'ree and Ac- 
cepted Masons, being one of the leading 
spirits of Clam Lake Lodge Xi'. 331. and 
also, with his wife, to the Order of the East- 
ern Star. His name a])i)ears upon the rec- 
(;rds of X'iiila Lodge Xo. 239. Indepen- 
dent Order df C_)dd l-"e!lows. of Cadillac 
Lodge Xo. 46, Knights of Pythias, and of 
Lodge X''o. 680, Benevolent and Protective 
Order of Elks, in all of which, as in the or- 
ganization al)o\-e, he manifests an ahidiiig in- 
terest and in which he h.is heen honored at 
clift'erent times with impurlant official sta- 
tions. 

On May -'3, 1S73, in the city of Grand 
l\a])i(ls. .Mr. Dnllon was united in luarriage 
with jerlena Cnithers. of Phelps, Xew York, 
daughter of Samuel and Harriett Crothers, 
both parents natives of Xew Xi^vk slate, the 
father miw ;i farmer i<\ (Ir.and Traverse 
cciunlN, Michigan, lixing near iMt'e Lake. 
the mother ha\ ing died there in the sjiring of 
igoi. Mr. and Mrs. 1 )uiliin ha\ e one chihl, 
a daughter by the name of Dollie who is now 
the wife of John Terwilliger. of Cadillac. 

Thus briellv have been set forth the 
salictU f.acts in the life of one of Cadillac's 
representative men of ;iff;iirs. ITis carec'r 
and position happily illustrate the fact, that 
if a voung man possesses the proper attri- 
liutes of nnnd ,and heart, with the aliility to 
direct the same in proper chaimels. he can 
attain to a position of luimistakable prece- 



dence and gain for himself an lionored i)lace 
.among the foremost factors in shapmg the 
destinies of cities, commtmities and stales. 
His life proves that the only true success in 
this world depends upon personal elTorts and 
consecutixe industry in the pursuit of some 
s])ecific aiul honorable purpose; it also dem- 
onstrates that the road to position is open to 
all who possess the courage to tread its 
])athway. besides serving as an incentive to 
the voung of the present generation, teaching 
bv incontrovertible tacts that true excellence 
in an\' worthy undertaking is aiubition's le- 
aitimate answer. 



JOHX GOLDSMLriL 

.\midst the poi)ulation oi the Lnited 
States no one need be surprised at the people 
whom they encounter. The man wlio sells 
_\-ou bananas on the street corner lua)' ha\e 
l)een a princeling in his native Italy; your 
barber, witli his kindly smile, polished man- 
ner and aft'al)le ways, luay have been a mem- 
ber of the nobility in the land of his nativity ; 
a genuine British lord has been known to 
serve as a common cow puncher in tlie south- 
west, and there are instances where ex-mem- 
bers of the English parliament have been re- 
duced to the necessity of performing very 
menial labor in America in order to eke out 
an existence. One can never judge accurate- 
Iv of a man's past bv his environment in 
.\merica. for this is a country where all 
r;inks are leveled and titles couiu for noth- 
ing. exce])t among luarriagealiie young wo- 
men whose jjapas have more money than 
brains with which to endow theiu. The sub- 
ject of this review, John Goldsmith. <_)f Col- 
fax townsliip, is neitlier a princeling, a luem- 



WEXFORD COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



439 



ber of the nobility, a lord or an ex-member of 
parliament. His services to the world lia\e, 
doubtless, Ijeen far more \aluable than if he 
were the possessor oi either of those distinc- 
tions. It seems strange, however, to en- 
counter in an inland county in Michigan a 
man whose early career was as varied, as ex- 
citing- and as replete with adventure as that 
of John Goldsmith. He followed the life of 
a sailor upon the ocean for twenty years, 
visited nearly ex'cry important port on the 
face of the earth, twice circumnavigated the 
globe, and now, in his sixty-seventh year, 
we find him quietly and comfortaljly set- 
tled upon a farm in Wexford count}', enjoy- 
ing the blessings of domestic tranquility in 
the midst of a noble family. 

John Goldsmith is a native of Germany, 
born in the duchy of Holstein, September 
1 8, 1836. His father was a native of Ire- 
land and his mother of Germany. The fu'st 
tweKe years of his life were spent fieneath 
the paternal roof, during which time such 
education as he received was acipiired. At 
the early age of twelve he became a sailor 
upon the high seas, following that calling for 
many years. Being in Brooklyn, New York, 
at the time of the breaking out of the Civil 
war in America, he enlisted in the United 
.States na\'}- and ser\ed about three years on 
the frigate "Sabine," when he received an 
honorable discharge on account of disability. 

While on a visit to his native land early 
in 1 86 1, John tioldsmith was united in mar- 
riage to Miss Maria Xagle, a native of Han- 
oxer, Germany, born Fel>ruary 17, 1844. 
His ser\-ices in the United States navy ne- 
cessitated a separation of several years from 
the worthy woman whom he had married, 
l)iit upon his ilischarge he came to Wexford 
county, located upon the tract of land which 



he at present owns and occupies, and as soon 
thereafter as circumstances would permit 
was joined there by his wife. In addition to 
his experience upon the ocean and in the 
I'nited States navy, he followed sailing upon 
the great lakes for three years. Having no 
certificate of the marriage which had taken 
place in Germany, April 17, 1868, he and his, 
wife went to Manistee, Michigan, and were 
married under the laws of the United States. 
To the union of Mr. and Mrs. Goldsmith 
nine children have been born, viz: .\nna 
]\I., Harry J., George W., who is married, 
Phynetta M., Orlandii H., Katharine J., 
Louise G. and Mary H. (Jne S(;in died in 
infancv: Anna is the wife of George Jenk- 
ins and has one child, Maria, and Phynetta 
is the wife of Edgar Ostrander and they 
ha\c four children, Elijah, Johnnie, Louise 
and ;\Ierritt. 

On becoming a resident of Wexford 
county ]\[r. Goldsmith located upon a home- 
stead of eighty acres, a part of section 20. 
Colfax township, which he has cleared, im- 
proved and cultivated from that time to the 
present. He has sixty acres of his land un- 
der culti\'ation and the farm is well stocked, 
equip])ed and supplied with all necessary 
farm buildings, including a handsome res- 
idence. He is a thorough, practical farmer 
and. a most capable business man, who has 
managed his affairs so successfully that he is 
in possession of a comfortable comi)etency. 

From the time of his ad\ent in Wex- 
ford c<iuntv John Goldsmith has actively in- 
terested himself in all public affairs, par- 
ticular! v those liertaining to the townshi]) in 
which he resides. He has been highly hon- 
ored bv the suffrage of his fellow citizens, 
having been elected to a number of local po- 
sitions, among them township treasurer, su- 



440 



11' EX FORD COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



per\i.sor. justice of the peace, constable and 
mcmljer of tlie school hoard. He has well 
and faithfully discharged the iluties of the 
office of justice of the peace for twenty-hve 
years. He is a memljer of the (Irand Arm\' 
ot the Republic, O. P. Morton Post Xo. 54. 
at Alanton, the Colfax Grange. Patrons of 
Husbandry, Lodge \o. 357. Independent 
Order of Odd Fellows, at IVIanton. He is 
one of the very oldest residents of Colfax 
township, a man who has led a busy and 
most usefid life and who now. in the e\eiiing 
of his career, is in a position to enjov the re- 
w.nrds which have come to him as the natural 
recompense of a noljle, well-spent life. 



THOMAS HODC;SOX. 

Agriculture has been an honored voca- 
tion from the earliest ages and as a usual 
thing men of honorable and humane im 
])ulses, as well as those of energv and thrift, 
have licen patrons of husbandry. The free 
outdoor life of the farm has a decirled ten- 
dency to foster and develop that independ- 
ence of mind and self-reliance which char- 
acterize true manhood and no greater bless- 
ing can laefall a boy than to be reared in 
close touch with nature in the healthful, life- 
ins])iring labor of tlie fields. It has always 
lu-en tiie fruUful soil from which ha\e 
sprung the moral bone and sinew of the 
country, and the niajoril_\- of otir nation's 
great w.arriors. wise statesmen, renowneil 
scholars and distinguished men of letters 
were horn on the farm and are indebleil to 
its early inlluence for the distinction \\hich 
they have attained. 

Thomas Hod<>son is ;', native of merrie 



England, born in Westmoreland county on 
the 28th of ]'ebruar\-. i83(S. He was reared 
in his nati\e country and there received a fair 
education. Upon attaining mature }ears. he 
became convinced that in the new world lay 
better opportunities for a man of energy and 
ambition, and he carried his convictions into 
effect by emigrating to Canada. After resid- 
ing in the dominion about six years he re- 
mo\ed to Kansas and made that his home for 
about four years. In September. 1874. he 
came to \\ ex ford county and settled on tiie 
farm in section 36. Clam Lake township, on 
which he now resides. His farm comprises 
one hundred and twentx' acres of land, of 
which ninety are in cultivation. He has a 
comfortable and commodious residence and 
splendid farm Iniildings in which to house 
his stock and store the products of the farm. 
He has his farm stocked with good grades of 
horses, cattle and hogs and his fields are in 
a high state of cultivation. He has paid 
s])ecial attention to trees, having some splen- 
did fruit and shade trees on the place, and 
has otherwise in many ways endeavored to 
make his farm a model one. Under his care- 
ful and skillful management it is made to 
vield more liberal returns than many places 
of much largerarea. He is a man of indus- 
trious and thrifty habits and seldom fails of 
winning success from exerything to w hich he 
lays his hands. His home is a model of neat- 
ness and comfort and he has surrounded 
himself with many of the comforts and lux- 
lU'ies of life which make a rural home so at- 
tracti\e. .\mong his friends ruid fellow cit- 
izens he is belli in higii f.avor. lie is enter- 
])r!sing in all the term im])lies. i)ublic spirited 
in all that jiertains to the material ])rosperity 
of his township and county ;ind as :i larmer 
he occupies a leading place among the citi- 



WEXFORD COUNTY, ^nCHIGAN. 



441 



zcns of the community in wliicli he resides. 
In all his relations with his fellow men his 
conduct has been blameless and it has been 
his laudable aim to keep his name and char- 
acter above reproach. 

In 1866, at Ingersoll, Canada, Mr. 
Hodgson was united in. marriage with Miss 
Mary Gane, a native of England, born" April 
20, 1848, the daughter of John and Elizabeth 
( Parson )Gane. Tins union has been a most 
felicitous one and has been blessed by the 
birth of twelve children, named as follows: 
Elizabeth M., born Xovemlier it,, 1866, is 
the wife of James Phillips, a millwright at 
Traverse City, and they have three children, 
Lena. Hazel and Elmer; Elwood N., born 
August 9, 1868, a farmer in Clam Lake 
township, married Edna Thomas and they 
have one child living, Albert T. ; Maggie E., 
born July 3, 1876, is the wife of George ^^^ 
Heator, of Cadillac: Anna F., bom January 
13, 1873, (lied April 11. 1895; was the wife 
of iM-ederick Phillips, of Cadillac; John H., 
born June 3. 1875, died Septemlier i, 1877: 
Anthony E., born September 10, 1877, is a 
resident of Missaukee county: Elsie E., born 
Octcjber 8, 1880, is the wife of Samuel 
Shine, of Clam Lake township, and they 
have one child, Milton D. ; Edith R., torn 
November 21, 1882, is at home; Mildred E., 
born June 20, 1884. is at home; Julia E., 
Lorn June 2t,, 1887, died at the age of 
three months and three days: .\rthur T., 
born Xovemlier 15, 1888, is at home, as is 
Gertha Pdanche, born September .30, 1890. 

Mr. Hodgson is an ardent member of the 
Republican party and takes a deep interest 
in the trend of passing events, especially in 
all matters affecting the interests of his 
own comnumity. Religiously he is identified 
with the Methodist Episcopal church, to 



which he contributes liberally of his time and 
means. His wife and children are alsi> mem- 
bers i_)f the same church and are actively in- 
terested in the work (if the society. They all 
occupy a conspicuous place in the social cir- 
cles (.)f the community and are held in high 
esteem by all who' know them. 

The following obituary of John N. Gane, 
father of Mrs. Hodgson, will no doubt pro\'e 
of interest to the reader : 

John N. Gane was born in Suniniersctshire. Eng- 
land, June 5, 1817, and died Dec. 30, 1897, aged stv- 
enty-eight years, si.x months and twenty-five days. 
In the year 1844 he was united in holy wedlock to 
Elizabeth E. Parsons, with whom he lived a most 
happy life for forty-eight years. In 1892, in the .sixty- 
fourth year of her age, she was called to her heavenly 
home. The fruit of their wedded life was nine 
children. Of these two died in infancy, two after 
they had reached the years of maturity, and five still 
remain to mourn the loss of father and mothi;r — 
a daug-hter, Mrs. Thomas Hodgson, and four sons, 
George, Robert,. Homer, a Presbyterian, minister in 
the state of Kansas, and Walter, the youngest of the 
family 

John Gane together with his beloved wife and 
children then born left their native land, and came 
to Ingersol, in what was at that - time known as 
Canada Wtst, now called the province of Ontario, 
and there they remained for twenty years. In 1867 he 
with his beloved family mnved to Clam Lake town- 
ship, Michigan. His home has been in the township 
to which he gave the name it at present bears, up to 
the time of his death. Sister Gane had at the 
time of her death lived twenty-t'hree years to a day 
on the old homestead farm in the extreme southeast 
of Wexford county. 

The deceased was converted very shortly after 
the birth of his first child. He seemed to have been 
impressed with the great responsi'bility resting upon 
him to train up the precious gift of a dear child in 
the fear and admonition of the Lord; and while 
standing in the church of his native land in a prayer 
meeting, said as he looked on one of the pillars 
of the building, "Let this be a witness that I this day 
consccrnte my life to God." Shortly after, he 
and his young wife united with the Wesleyan Meth- 
odist church of t1ie home land. Through all these 
vears he remained faithful to that vow made in the 



442 



irnxFORD couxry. Michigan. 



spring-time of life. By the life of such a saint we 
may learn something of the spirit of early Method- 
ism 'J'he Methodists of that time were a very happy 
pccple They lived for the other world. Like the 
saints of old, they regarded themselves as strangers 
anr: pilgrims on the earth. He was a class-leader for 
more than forty years, and no douht would have con- 
tinued the good work hut for tlie fact that he be- 
came dull of hearing. He delighted in visiting the 
sick and dying, and in pointing them to the only 
Savior of sinners. 

One could not be long in his company without 
the subject of religion being introduced, but in such 
a p'.easant and familiar way that even the most wicked 
coul.l not take offense. He seemed to breathe the 
atmosphere of the heavenly world. It was no un- 
common thing for him to spend an hour on his knees 
— morning, noon and night. He did not pray as most 
people do. He talked with God as one does to his 
most fam.iliar friend. Sunday. December 19, he at- 
tended his last love-feast, and how cheerful was his 
testimony, not-withstanding the fact th&t he could not 
hear the testimony of others. 

The following week he was looking forward to 
the coming Sabbath, telling his son with whom he was 
visiting that he was glad that they could attend the 
service that day together. But the Heavenly Father 
ordered otherwise, for on Saturday night he was 
stricken with paralysis. He was unconscious for a 
time, but soon came to himself so that he understood 
all that was said to him. When prayer was offered. 
se\eral times he responded — .\men. Referring to 
Job, he quoted his words and said: "Though he slay 
me yet will I trust in Him." As one gazed upon the 
dying saint the words of the blessed book would come 
to his mind : "Let me die the death of the righteous, 
and let my last end be like his." ."Kt nine o'clock 
Thursday morning, without a struggle or a groan, 
he passed to the heavenly mansions to meet the 
blessed Savior, the beloved companion of his long 
life, and the dear children gone before. "Blessed are 
the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth : yea. 
saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labors 
and their works do follow ihem." 



.M.l'.l'-.RT 1.. SMITH. 

With hiitli tlic rioricuhural and indtisirial 
interests of Clam Lake township .\ll)ert L. 
Sniitli is itlentiiied and is .'. worthy represent- 



ative of business acti\ity liere. ReaHzing 
that "there is no royal road to wealth" and 
that "there is no e.xcelleiice without labor", 
he has worked earnestly and untiringly to 
win a comfortable competence and a credit- 
;il)le name in the Ijiisiness world. He miw 
carries on both farming" and Inmliering. 
Ijeing engaged in the operation of a saw-mill 
in connection with the tilling of the soil. 

Mr. Smith is a native of the Em])ire 
state, his birth having occurred on the J^^^l 
of June. 1855, in Ontario county. His 
parents were Charles C. and Jane .\. 
( Broom) Smith, who emigrated westward 
and spent their last days in Kent county, 
Michigan. Of their fotir children Albert L. 
Smith is the ycjungest. one is deceasetl. anil 
the others are: Mary Jane, the widow of 
Robert H. Lewis, for twenty-nine years a 
resident of this county, and she has three chil- 
dren, Gary O., Albert L. and Emily L ; 
Charles C, a farmer of Osecola county, mar- 
ried Eliza Smith, and they have five children. 
The subject was liardl_\- mure than an infant 
when his i)arents left Xew York for In- 
diana and was a lad of only eight summers 
when they took up their alxide in Kent coun- 
ty. Michigan, where he continued his educa- 
tion that had been begun in the schools of 
Indiana. In the summer months he worked 
in the lumber business, and was trained to 
habits of industry, economy and honesty. 
He continued his residence in Kent county, 
tmtil i8qo. when he made his way to Osceola 
C( unity, but cliiise liis location in (.'lam 
Lake liiwnslii]). where he has since ma<le his 
liiime. ha\ing here a gootl farm of ninety-six 
;icres of ricli land. While plowing, planting 
• iiid liarxesting claims considerable of his 
attention, he also has other business inter- 
ests, for he iiwns and operates a saw-mill 




'''"''■■■***'*<'>*Mma«amM«M«ia 



fmiimm h,!,,,,,^,,,, „iinmjii."T 



ALBERT L. SMITH RESIDENCE. 



WEXFORD COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



443 



ami is thus engaged in the manufacture of 
lumlier, for whicli lie finds a ready sale. 
industry is the keynote of his character and 
he places his dei:)endence not upon specu- 
lation or upon any fortunate combination of 
circumstances, hut continued, persistent 
eftort. guided by sound judgment. 

In Osceola county, Michigan, on the ^3(1 
of January, 1881, was celebrated the mar- 
riage of Mr. Smith and Miss Mahala A. 
Williams, a native of Wells county, Indiana, 
born on the 8th of May, 1857. She is a 
daughter of P'rancis M. and Mary E. (Rich- 
ards) Williams. Her mother, who boi"e the 
maiden name of Mary E. Richards, died in 
Wells county, Septemljer 23, 1873. Mrs. 
Smith is the eldest of the eight children born 
vmto her parents, of whom the following are 
living: Mrs. Smith; John R., a farmier, who 
is married and lives in Antrim county: Da- 
vid II.: Isaac X., of Osceola county; Jo- 
seph L., also of Osceola county. By her 
marriage Mrs. Smith has become the moth- 
er of four children ; Lena, Guy L., Charlotte 
and Bessie E. The family is well known in 
Wexford county and the nembers of the 
household occupy an enviaiile position in the 
social circles in which they move. During 
the thirteen years of his residence in this 
part of the state Mr. Smith has so directed 
his efforts that a paying business is now his 
and a good home property. Both his agri- 
cultiu'al and industrial interests return to 
him a good income and he is known as a 
reliable man. the potent traits of his character 
being his ])erse\'erance and dili.gence. His 
lieautiful residence was l)uilt almost cntiix-l}- 
bv his own bands, and in furnishing it in its 
])resent cosy style bis wife has fulK' done her 
part. Their cash assets u])on coming to this 



County were but eleven dollars, so thcv may 
justiliably look upon their subsequent success 
with a large de.gree of pride and satisfaction. 



lOHN OLSEN. 



To the subject of this review is accorded 
the distinction of being the pioneer 1xK)t and 
shoe merchant of Cadillac, consecjuently he is 
one of the city's oldest as well as one of its 
representative business men. As the name 
indicates. Mr. Olsen is of Scandinavian 
birth, l)eing a native of Norway, where he 
was born on the 2d day of December, 1849, 
ha\'ing first seen the light of day in the town 
of Sabo. L'ntil twelve years old he lived on 
a farm near his natixe place and at intervals 
during that time attended the schools of his 
neighborhooti, receiving an elementary train- 
ing, which was afterwards supplemented by 
additional study, principally under his own 
direction. At the age of si.xteen he left home 
and went to the city of Birgen, where he 
learned shoemaking, spending si.x and a half 
years at that place, during which period he 
not only became a \-ery efficient workman, 
but earned considerable money at his trade. 

l-'ollowing the example of many of his 
countrymen, Mr. Olsen, in 1871, came to the 
L'uited States, locating in Chicago, where he 
followed his chosen calling until October, 
1874, meanwhile experiencing all the horrors 
of the terrible conlla.gration which laid the 
greater part of that city in ashes. In the kil- 
ter month and \ear he was sent to Cadillac 
by his emijloyer, ( ). \' . I'.loss. to take charge 
of a stock of boots and shoes, in connection 
with which he also worked at his trade, the 



444 



WEXFORD COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



business l:)eiiig tlie first of the kind Ijiought to 
the town. Mr. Olsen contkicted the business 
for Mr. Bloss until 1879. in tiie spring of 
wliicli year he resigned liis charge for the 
purpose of embarking in mercantile pursuits 
upon his own account, selecting the line of 
trade with wliich he was most familiar, — 
boots and slioes. His previous wide ac- 
quaintance and honorable dealing gave him 
considerable prestige and it was not long un- 
til he forged to the front as the leading shoe 
merchant in the place, a reputation he still 
sustains. For almost thirty years he has 
been identified with the commercial interests 
of Cadillac, during which time he has not 
only built up a large and financially suc- 
cessful business of his own and acquired a 
comfortable competence, but he has also con- 
tributed greatly to the material advancement 
of the city, taking an active interest in its 
general growth and development and using 
his influence to ach'ertise its advantages to 
the world. 

On August J, I1S79, Mr. Olsen was uni- 
ted in marriage with Miss Sophia Symmson, 
a native of Sweden, the union being blessed 
with eight children, whose names are as fol- 
lows : Fred, who died March 15, 1903, Ar- 
thur, John I'"., Ada E., Anna, Mabel, Helen, 
and Marion, who died May 16. 1903. ^Ir. 
and Mrs. Olsen are influential members of 
the Swedish Mission church of Cadillac. Ixith 
active in the good works of the congregation 
and untiring in their efforts to spread the 
truths of the gospel auKing the people with 
whom they mingle. 

While retaining a warm feeling for his 
native land and manifesting a lively interest 
in its public affairs. ^Ir. Olsen is neverthe- 
less an enthusiastic -\merican. with a love 
for his adopted country and an admiration 



for its institutions outweighing nearlv every 
other consideration. Here the greater and 
more important part of his life work has been 
accomi)lished and what success he has 
achieved has been wrought out under the 
fostering conditions such as no other coun- 
try in the world affords. In the spring of 
1887 Mr. Olsen revisited his native land and 
spent about three mouths amid the scenes of 
his childhood and youth, renewing old ac- 
quaintances and noting with not a little 
pathos the numerous changes that had taken 
place since he left the dear old home, so 
many years before. On the whole, his stay 
was pleasant and when he returned it was 
with more satisfaction than ever that he con- 
templated the new home and the many ad- 
vantages it possesses over the older and more 
romantic scenes of a home which hereafter 
will exist only as a pleasing memory. 

.\s a citizen Mr. Olsen discharges every 
dut\- incumbent upon him with an eye to the 
good of the comnumity and the state, stand- 
ing for a strict enforcement of the laws and 
lending his influence and support to every 
laudable measure wherebv the bodv politic 
may be benefited. Since coming to Cadillac, 
his life and the cil\"s growth have been pret- 
ty much one and the same thing, for he has 
appreciated the needs of the community and 
with lavish hand has supplied the same as 
far as the limits of his ability would permit. 
E\cry worthy project for the material, so- 
cial or moral well-being of his fellow men 
has received his sanction and, if necessary, 
his financial support and all his relations 
with the world have been characterized l)v a 
sense of honor besjjeaking the upright man 
and true lover of his kind. Mr. Olsen's life 
has been largely confined to business and 
froiu the beginning of his career as an inde- 



WEXFORD COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



445 



pendent factor to the i)resent time lie has 
made the most of liis opportunities, Iiis suc- 
cess not being due to fortunate combination 
of circumstances, but to his well-directed ef- 
forts antl earnest enterprise. As stated in a 
preceding- paragraph, he has not circum- 
scribed his progressive spirit within selfish 
;iii(l narrow bounds, but on the contrary has 
e\'er stood ready to lend his influence and 
tangible aid in furthering such interests as 
make for the benefit of the city and its peo- 
ple, being broad minded and public spirited, 
in brief, a man whose value to the ci>mmu- 
nitv is n(5t to be lightly estimated. 



LESTER C. MACEY. 

.\ citizen of the L'nited States can have 
no greater badge of honor than the distinc- 
tion of having served the government in the 
four years of war between the states. It is 
a sacred family inheritance of renown, to be 
prized like a jewel l)v all descendants and 
kept brig"ht'and untarnished l)y other acts 
of valor, patriotism and loyalty in tJie inter- 
est of free government. Among the honored 
old \eterans of the great Rebellion ntjw re- 
siding in Wexford county is Lester C. Ma- 
cey, the subject of this review. A native of 
Burlington, Vermont, springing from the 
sturdy stock of the Green Mountain state, it 
is no wonder tliat he has an army record 
during the war of the Rebellion of which 
auv man might be proud. October 14, 1861, 
he entered the Federal service, re-enlisted 
each time at the expiration of his term of en- 
listment and serxed until after the last shot 
of the great Ci\'il \var had ]>een fired. His 
honorable discharge is dated in bebrnary. 
186;. 



Lester C. Macey, whose farm is a part 
of section 9. Haring township. Wexford 
county, was born at the parental home in 
Burlington. X'ermont, September 11, 1846. 
His parents were Charles and Harriett 
(Stowe) ]\hicey. both natives of Vermont. 
They were the parents of eight children, of 
whom L-esfer C. Macey was the fourth. In 
1850 the family moved to Clinton county, 
New York, located on a farm and there re- 
sided until the death of the father, at the age 
of se\enty-two years. The mother is still 
living, aged ninety-one years. 

October 14, 1861, when but fifteen years 
of age, Lester C. Macey enlisted in Company 
K. Xinety-sixth New York \'olunteer In- 
lantry. and serx'ed from that time until mid- 
summer. June 18. 1864. He took part in 
nearly all of the luost sanguinary battles of 
the Rebellion and escaped not only with his 
life, but without being maimed or very badly 
crippled. His most serious injury was re- 
ceixed in front of Petersburg, Virginia, on 
the Weldon Railroad, on the i8th of June, 
180^. He was severely wounded in the 
right leg and for a time it was feared that 
amputation might be necessarv. but he was 
fortunate in being' able to save this member. 
Some of the battles and engagements in 
which he participated are Antietam. Mary- 
land, September 16 and 17, 1862; South 
Mountain. Maryland. September 13 and 14, 
i86j; the Peninsular campaign, Virginia, 
Alarch 17 to .September 2. 1862; l^'air Oaks, 
May 31 and June i. 8. 18 and 2/. 1862; 
Gaines Farm. May 14 and 15, 1862: Mal- 
vern Hill. \'irginia. July i. 2 and 2T,. and 
August 2. 5. 6 and S. 1862. He also partic- 
ipated in the many b;itt!es, engagements and 
skirmishes in Xorthh Carolina while under 
the command of General Foster. He was at 



446 



WEXFORD COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



Gettysburg", PeniisyKania. June 26 ami July 
I to 3, 1863, and in the battles of the Wilder- 
ness, Virginia, in May. 1864, he was with 
his regiment and saw some superb fighting 
rdl along the line for several days. 

On leaving the arniv he returned for a 
short time to Clinton county, Xew York, 
then mo\c(l to Michigan and soon thereafter 
liicatc<l in Manistee county, securing enipk)y- 
niciit in the woods, logging and lumljering, 
which he followed for eight years. He then 
purchased a forty-acre tract of land, part of 
.section 9, Haring township, where he estab- 
lished a home and where he has since resided. 

Octoljer 29, 1876, in the city of Cadillac, 
Wexford county, Lester C. Macey was uni- 
ted in marriage to Miss Carrie C. Warren, a 
nati\e of Xew York, born May 8, 1854. Her 
parents were Zephiniah and Elizabeth ( Mc- 
C(ire\- ) Warren, lie was a native of \'er- 
niont, while the ])lace of her birth was Can- 
ada They were the jiarents of seven chil- 
dren, of whom (.'arrie C., wife of the sul)ject. 
was the fifth in order nf hiilli. .Mr. Warren 
was ninety-one vears old at the time of his 
death. Elizaliclh. his faithful wife, is a resi- 
dent of East Randolph. Cattaraugus coun- 
ty. Xew York, being now aged seventy-eight. 
Ti) the union of Lester C. and Carrie C. 
(Warren) Macey fi\'e children ha\e been 
1)1 )rn. two of whom died earlv in life. (,"hes- 
ter A. was only jjcrmitted to cnj<>_\- one ye:u" 
of earthly existence, and h^va M. gladdened 
the hearts of her jkuxmiIs for se\'en vears, 
when death claimed her. The li\ing chil- 
dren are lulith. Myrtle ;ui(l Almecla. They 
are intelligent, well educated ;md umdest. 
\dun.g ladies whn by their winning wa\s and 
many accom|)lishments make the f.amilv 
iiome a most enjoyable one. 

Despite the eminent ser\ ices he rendered 



his country, Lester C. Macey has never taken 
very kindly to politics. He has never sought 
public place of any kind. At one time he was 
induced to accept the position of drainage 
commissioner of Haring township, but he 
did Udl really wrmt the place and was only 
too glad when his term i)f office ex|)ired. 
There are manv men all o\er this C(_>untry, 
whose military records pale into insignifi- 
cance before that of Lester C. Macey, who 
are using their alleged military achievements 
to boost them into public places. He would 
scorn to make use of what he did through 
patriotic motives for so base a purpose. Men 
of his candor, frankness and honesty very 
rarely make a success of politics. The only 
fraternal society to which he belongs is the 
Masons. He is a memljer of Cadillac Lodge 
Xo. 331, l-"ree and Accepted Masons, and a 
more sincere and conscientious member of 
the order it would be difficult to find. 



(;b:()U(ii': n. \\h:sTC)\'ER. 

L'pon the industrial activity of a commu- 
nity depends in a large measure the prosper- 
ity of the peo])le and the men recognized as 
the directors of progress are those who have 
in hand the management and control of im- 
portant public enterprises. The gentleman 
whose name furnishes the caption of this 
re\-icw is entitled to distinction as one of 
the leading spirits in the material growth of 
Cadillac, having been identified with the 
cit\''s ad\';mcement in \'arious capacities, be- 
ing at the present time superintendent of the 
water .-nid electric liglu plant, in the estab- 
lishment and Construction of which he was 
also an ;iclive and infiuential factor. George 



WEXFORD COUNTY. MICHIGAN. 



447 



D. \\'esto\'er is a nati\e of Michigan, born 
in the town of Nunica. Ottawa county, on 
the 26th day of April, 1S65. His father, the 
late Charles D. Westover, was for many 
}-ears a prominent business man nf tliis state 
and at the time of his death, March 2j. 1887, 
was the leading- lumber dealer of Cadillac, 
also one of the city's most enterprising and 
public-spirited citizens. The maiden name 
of the subject's mother was Ruth Lowe; 
she was born in Michigan, bore her husband 
four children and departed this life at Fruit- 
port, Muskegon county, b'ebruary 20, 1900. 
George D, \Vestover, the Noungest child 
of the above parents, spent his childhood 
and youth in his nati\e C(iunt\' and received 
his educational training in the public schools, 
his mind earlv taking bent towards the more 
practical affairs of life. Wdiile a mere lad 
he became familiar with the underlying prin- 
ciples of business and shortly after the fam- 
ily's removal to Cadillac, in 1881, he engaged 
in lumbering as his father's partner, the rela- 
tionship continuing about three years. At 
the expiration of that time he accepted a po- 
sition with the Waterhouse Electric Com- 
])any of Plartford, Connecticut, subsequently 
absorbed by the Westinghouse Company, 
where he soon ac(juired etticiencv as an elec- 
trical engineer, and it was while thus en- 
gaged that he superintended the construction 
of the first electric light plant at Cadillac. 
After installing the works in this city, Mr. 
Westover, as constructing engineer for the 
^Vesting•house Company, then entered the 
employ of the Edison Light Company, of 
Grand Rajiids, and while there rose to an 
important ])osition, continualK' adding to his 
alreaih' well-establisheil re])utalion ;is .a skill- 
ful electrician and .able mech.'uiical engineer. 
Severing his connection with the above com- 



pany, he became interested in electric rail- 
road construction and in 1890 built the first 
electric rriilwa}- line in the city of Grand 
Rapids, which enterjjrise Ijrought his name 
prominenll}' before the public throughout the 
state. After completing the work, he con- 
tinned about one _\'ear in the capacitv of 
erecting engineer, .at the end of which time 
he again accejjted ,a ])osition with the Edison 
Company, remaining with the same until 
1893, when he resigned for the purpose of 
taking charge, as manager of the city water 
works and the Cummer Electric Light Com- 
]:)any of Cadillac. .\s superintendent of 
these important [niljlic enterprises Mr. \\'est- 
over displays aljilities of a high order, Ijoth 
mechanical and executixe, and his functii.ms 
ha\-e been discharged in a manner creditable 
to himself and satisfactory to the people of 
the city. .\n accomplished electrician and 
thoroughly familiar with every detail of me- 
chanical engineering, his manifold duties are 
so systematically arranged as to cause him 
no inconvenience, while as custodian of one 
of the leading interests of the city, his record 
has been honorable and upright, ne\er 
swerx'ing from the strict path of rectitude, 
Init always ])ro\ing able to discharge worth- 
ily the responsibilities resting upon him as 
chief factor in a station demanding the high- 
est order of business talent. He has latored 
earnestly to promote the efficiency of the 
work in hand, subordinating every other con- 
sideration to this one object, and it is con- 
ceded that the continued success of both en- 
terprises is directly attributable to his energy 
and svstematic business methods. 

Aside from his connection with Cad- 
illac's public works, .Mr. Westover h;is been 
an inlluential factor in its general business 
and industrial interests, every enterprise cal- 



448 



WEXFORD COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



ciliated to advance the city, materially or 
otherwise, receiving his hearty co-operation 
and support. He is unwavering in his ad- 
vocacy of what he believes to be for the pub- 
lic good, iii)lii)lds his honest convictions at 
the sacrifice of every other interest, and is 
ever ready to lend his influence and. if need 
be, his financial assistance to further all 
movements having for their object the social 
and moral improvement of the community. 
As a citizen he is deservedly popular with the 
people of his adopted city, standing high in 
the esteem of all classes and conditions and 
to the poor and needy he is ever ready to lend 
a helping hand, charity and benevolence be- 
ing among his most marked characteristics. 
Mr. Westover is in the prime of vigorous 
physical and mental manhood, a "hustler" in 
all the term implies, and the series of con- 
tinued successes that have attended his ca- 
reer thus far bespeak a still wider and more 
promising field of endeavor in years to come. 
Politically he gives his support to the Demo- 
cratic party, but the wiles and chicanery of 
the professional partisan meet no favor at 
his hands and he is by no means an aspirant 
fur ])ublic distinction or a seeker after the 
honors or emoluments of office. While 
earnest in the support of his principles and al- 
ways ready to assign an intelligent reason 
for his opinions, he is, first of all, a man of 
business, making everything else secondary 
to his public obligations. Mr. .Westover is 
a married man and has a beautiful home, 
which was presided over with grace and dig- 
nil\- bv an intelligent and refined lady to 
will mi he was united in the bonds of wed- 
lock on the 5th day of .April, 1893. •^^''•''■ 
Westover was formerly Miss Eugenia E. 
Camp, daughter of John Camp, of (irand 
Rajjids. in which city she was reared and ed- 



ucated. This union, a most fortunate and 
happy one. was blessed with one child, a 
daughter by the name of Marion E.. in 
whom are centered many fond hopes for the 
future. Mrs. Westover passed from this 
earth on December 24. 1902. and was in- 
terred in Oak Hill cemetery. Grand Rapids. 
In closing this brief sketch of one of 
Cadillac's most energetic and progressive 
young men of afifairs, suffice it to state in 
brief that Mr. Westover's duties as a citizen 
have been discharged with the same fidelity 
that has characterized his career as a public 
servant : he is a valuable member of the lj<jdy 
politic and his main object has always been 
to shape his lite and conduct according to 
the highest standing of excellence. He en- 
tertains noble aims and high ideals and the 
consensus of opinion is that he stands before 
the world a model of the successful business 
man and a true type of the ci mrteous. broad- 
minded gentleman. 



ELOX CORNELL. 



The geiillcnian whose name appears 
above is one of the lirave. indomitable spirits 
to whom the present generation is so largely 
indebted for the transformation of the wil- 
derness of We.xford county into a dominion 
of civilization and enlightenment. Endowed 
by nature with strong bodily power and 
marked characteristics that have made him 
efficient in the mission he was born to ful- 
fill, he has labored hard and done much to 
confer the blessing of progress upon this 
])art of the state, being now one of the oldest 
as well as one of the best known and ifiost 
higiilv respected citizens of the township in 



irjiXI-ORD COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



449 



which he resides and with tlie de\eloj)ment 
(if which he lias so long been identifietl. 

Eloii Cornell is a native of Steuben 
cnuntv. Xew York, where he was born on 
the 0th day of July. 1836. the son of Elisha 
antl ^Myrtle Cornell, the latter before her 
marriage having lieen a Chrissler. These pa- 
rents reared a family of eleven children and 
died a numljer Lif years ago in their native 
state, honored and respected by all who 
knew them. Of the large family tliat once 
gathered around their hearthstone the sub- 
ject of this sketch is next to the youngest. 
His father being a tiller of the soil. Elon was 
reared on the farm, early became familiar 
with its varied duties and when old enough 
to begin life for himself wisely decided to 
devote his time to husbandry. After re- 
maining on the old homestead until his mar- 
riage, which was solemnized h'eliruary 22. 
1859. with Miss Phoelje Masters he set- 
tled on a farm in his native county and there 
lix'ed until 1863, in October of which year he 
sold out and moved his family to the new 
and sparsely populated country of northern 
I\Iichigan, taking possession of a homestead 
in \\'exford county w hich he had entered the 
previous summer. 

Mr. Cornell's claim was in what is now 
Wexford t(_iwnship and. the country being 
\\ild and no neighbor nearer th;m several 
miles, a more uninviting prospect than the 
new home in the wilderness presented would 
be difficult to imagine. Dense forests cov- 
ered the land, amid the sombre recesses of 
which but few white people had penetrated, 
wild animals, numerous and some of them 
fierce, were everywhere in evidence, and the 
future outlook was anything but bright and 
encotiraging. After hastily constructing a 
rude log shanty iov his famil\'. .Mr. Cornell. 



with the lively hope which has always char- 
acterized him, began the work of clearing 
his ]jlace and it was not long until he suc- 
ceeded in removing the timber from two 
acres and geting the soil under cultivation. 
He continued to prosecute his labors with 
diligence until his area of tillable land 
auK united to one hundred and twenty acres, 
the meinwhile making other improvements 
ni the way of buildings, etc., one of which 
was the erection of a residence of enlarged 
proportions to take the place of the little 
cabin, within the humble walls of wdiich the 
family experienced many vicissitudes and 
hardships of pioneer life. 

Mr. Cornell took an acti\e interest in the 
growth and de\elopment of the country, as- 
sistetl the new comers l)y every means with- 
in his ]iower. and as years went by became 
one of the leading men and inHnential citi- 
zens of his community. By industry and well 
regulated thrift he succeeded in placing him- 
self in comfortable circumstances, besides 
laying by a competency for old age, after 
which he divided his land among his sons, 
reserving for his own ajid his wife's use the 
homestead and about fifty acres surrounding. 
He is now practically retired, finding it no 
longer necessary to labor, as his li\elihoo(l 
is assiu'cd. and in a pleasant home, sur- 
rounded ])\ man\- con\-eniences. with de- 
\-oted sons and daughters to minister to his 
comfort, he is spending his declining years 
in the enjoyment of the fruits of his toil. 

While at all times devoting attentiori to 
his own interests and laboring hard to pro- 
vide for those dependent upon him, Mr. 
Cornell has never failed in his duties as a 
citizen or neglected his obligation to the pub- 
lic. l'"or manv years he was an active fac- 
tor in township and county affairs, served 



450 



WEXFORD COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



as township trustee and liigiiway commis- 
sioner and worked zealously for the success 
I if tlic iiuliticai jjarty with whicii lie affiliated : 
IjuI willi advancing age he gradually with- 
• drew from participation in such matters, 
though he still keeps in touch with the world 
of thought and the trend of current events, 
in his religious belief he is a Methodist, as 
is also his gond wife, hoth being zealous 
members (if the church, dignifying' their 
profession by wnrd and deed and duly ap- 
preciating their high privileges as disciples 
of the meek and lowly Xazarene. ^Irs. 
I'lirnell was burn .May 13. 1843, '" Steuben 
cdunty, Xcw ^'nrk. her ancestors having 
been early settlers of that section of the Em- 
pire state. She is the mother of four chil- 
dren, whose names are William, l-!dwin, 
b'liza and Lucy. FJiza lieing the wife of lid- 
ward Millnian and Lucy luarrying Martin 
.Stoack. both gentlemen residents of Wex- 
ford countx'. 



HLXR^■ CL.W McNLFT. 

If it be true — and there is good authori'\- 
for the statement — that one's cn\ironment 
has much to do in intluencing his character, 
then the men who have had the good fortune 
to pass their li\es in the midst of movements 
which ha\e brought about the rapid devel- 
o])mem and reniurkalile advancement of 
northern Michigan may well be expected to 
exhibit independence, self-reliance, enterprise 
and practical sagacity. In the life of the 
subject of this review. I lemy Clav McXitt, 
may be fnund tlmsc (|ualitit's in a m.arked 
degree, (lis success is based upon .a jiromjit 
.md judicious use of opi)ortunity. 

Henrv Clav McXitt is a native of the 



state of Alichigan. having been Ixjrn in 
S])arta. Kent county, March 19, 1849. J lis 
l)arents were Horace and Sarah (Whitney) 
^IcXitt, natives of Ohio and early pioneers 
of Wexford county. They settled first in 
Boon township, where they remained a few 
years, then moved to Llaring township, and 
resided there until their death. They were 
the ])arents of ti\e children, of whom the sub- 
ject of this sketch was the second. 

Jn his native county of Kent Henry (". 
McXitt was reared and educated. He at- 
tended school at Grand Kapids. the county 
seat, and improved his time and the opportu- 
nities ofTered so well that today he is not 
onl_\- a well informed man. but in luanv re- 
gards may be considered learned. All of 
the hours of the day outside of the school- 
room were devoted to farming, in which 
\dcati<in he became quite successful. He 
moved from Kent ctiuiUy to Fayette county. 
Illinois, where he li\ed for six years, then 
returned to Kent county and l)ecame inter- 
ested in the mercantile business. Though 
never schooled in that line of business, he 
readily grasped all the details (jf the vocation 
and took more kindlv to the calling than 
m.any who were specialK- prepared for the 
work by education and training. In 1880, 
discovering that Wexford county had sever- 
al ])laces where a nice mercantile business 
mig-ht be successfully coiulucted. he caiue 
here and oi)ened stores in Haring. Round 
Lake and Jennings. During the eight years 
be was in business at tho.se points he pros- 
pered even beyond his lirightest hopes. 
Later he opened a store at Cadillac, the coun- 
ty seat, .■md continued in business there until 
i8()j. when he purchasc<l a f.arm of twn hun- 
dred and fort\- acres in section 15. Haring 
township. He has spent quite an amount 




H. C. McNITT GROUP. 



WEXFORD COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



451 



of money in making improvements. One 
hundred and thirty acres are cleared and un- 
der cultivation and the place is supplied with 
good substantial buildings of all kinds. He 
lias erected u]i(in it a large, comfortable 
home and will furnish it in a st\-le befitting 
the home of a man in his comfurtable finan- 
cial condition. 

On the 17th day of March. iS8(). at Jen- 
nings, Missaukee county, Michigan, Henry 
C. McNitt was united in marriage to Miss 
Carrie B. Anderson, a native of Indiana, 
born in Michigan City, Feb. 9, 1865. Her 
parents were George A. and Carrie (Cong- 
don) .\nderson, of Harrietta, \\^exford 
county. Mrs. IMcXitt is a lady of tact and 
jdjiiity who by her good judgnnent and dis- 
cretion has been a valuable assistant to her 
husband in all of his business ventures. 
They are the parents of three children, 
bright, intelligent boys, who not only reflect 
credit upon the family but upon the rearing 
and training they iiave received. The chil- 
dren are: Henry Clyde, a student at Farris 
Institute, Farl and Clarence. 

Busy as his life has been, Henry C. Mc- 
Xitt has found time to interest himself in 
e\ery jjublic enterprise set on foot to promote 
the welfare, growth and development of the 
township in which he lives and of the count)' 
at large. ?Ie has served as an official in some 
of the local offices of Haring township, but 
his election to those positions was not of his 
seeking. He has always felt that he could 
be of more service to his people and the local- 
ity of his residence as a private citizen than 
he could in any official position. He is a 
true, distinctixc and representative American 
— one of those whose genius for business is 
a constant source of astonishment to the 
natives of other countries. 



CYRIL H. TYLER. 

.\ single county of a great common- 
wealth may lie considered a very inconsid- 
erable part of it. It is, nevertheless, true 
that this whole nation is made up of just 
such humble municipalities, and each one 
deserves its portion of honor and renown for 
what it contributes to the wealth and power 
of the state and the nation. L'nder those 
circumstances Wexford county has a claim- 
to consideralile attention, and the men who 
had the work of moulding its infancy and di- 
recting its organization in such lines as have 
led to its present importance and position 
deserve much honor and everlasting remem- 
l)rance. particularly by those who call its 
territory their home, and have, therefore, a 
jiardonable pride in its institutions. One 
of those who took an important part in mak- 
ing this portion of northern Michigan what 
it is today is the subject of this review, Cyril 
II. Tyler, lumberman and farmer, of Man- 
ton. For more than fifty years, he has been 
a resident of Michigan and each one of those 
years has witnessed something done by him 
which added to the material wealth and 
prosperity of the state anil the county in 
which he lived. 

Cyril H. Tyler is a native of New York, 
born in Yates county. l'"ebruary 11, 1841. 
His parents were Rufus and Amy ( Farn- 
ham) Tyler, he born in ]\ladison county. 
New York, in 1816, she in Genesee county. 
New York, in 181 8. They were married 
in 1840 and twelve years thereafter, in 1852. 
the family moved to Kalamazoo coun*-y, 
Alichigan. where they residc<l for twenty 
\ears. In iSjj llu'\- mo\ed to Wexford 
countv. and ;diout a \e.ar later tlic_\' set- 
lied in Grand Traverse countv. where thev 



452 



WEXFORD COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



lived until 1893, when they returned to 
Wextnrd County and settled in MantiUi. 
Rufus Tyler died in Manton, August 27, 
i(S(j4. in the seventy-ninth year of his age. 
Amy Tyler is still living, at the age of 
eighty-five years. They were the parents of 
three children, two sons and one daughter. 
T!ie subject of this sketch was the oldest 
child of the family. 

In Kalamazoo county the subject grew to 
manhood and secured the benefits of a fair 
common school education. He tiien took \\\> 
the calling of a farmer and followed it until 
the breaking o\it of ihe war of the Rebellion 
c'dled him to a different and more hazarcl- 
i;us line of employment. August 14. 1861. 
he enlisted in Company L Seventh Regiment 
.Michigan \'olunteer Infantry, and .served 
three years. lie participated in some of 
the most imi)ortant liattles of that de:idl\ 
conllict, among them Fair Oaks. May ,^ 1 
and June 1. iSoj; Malvern Mill. July. iiSOj; 
Savage Station, Virginia. June 29. 1862; 
i<'redericksburg. \irginia. August 4 to 8, 
1SO2: Gettysburg, June 26 and July i to 3, 
1XO3 ; \\ ilderness. May 5 to 7, 1864; Spott- 
sylvania C'ourl I louse, ]\Iay 8 and 21, 1864: 
("old Harbor, May 31 and June 12, 186.1.: 
i'etcrsburg, Virginia, July 31, 1864, besides 
many engagements of less magnitude. He 
was discharged with some thirty of his com- 
rades, on the field, just at the opening of 
the battle at Reams Station, \'irginia, by 
rea.son of the expiration of their term of en- 
listment. His discharge came very oppor- 
tunely to sa\e him from capture and a long 
sojourn in a rebel prison. In about two 
hours from the time he was given his dis- 
charge the entire regiment to which he be- 
longed w;is in the hands of tlie Confederates, 
!t was months before some of them were 



exchanged and relea.se came to many of them 
only through death. 

Returning after his discharge to Kala- 
mazoo county, Mr. Tyler again again re- 
sumed his ocupation of farming, meeting 
with gratifying success each successive year. 
In August. 1871, he moved to Manton, 
Wexford county, and engaged in buying and 
selling timber lands, spending much of liis 
time in the woods logging. This he fol- 
lowed for twenty years, prosperity attend- 
ing all of his ett'orts. In 1891 he returned 
to the farm and lias followed agriculture 
since, devoting all of his time, when not 
actively engaged on the farm, to lumbering. 
He is the owner of two hundred acres of 
splendid lantl in Greenwood township on the 
Manistee river.' Only forty acres are as 
yet under cultivation. When cleared and 
])roperlv improved it will make as line a 
farm as coubt be desired. L'pward of one 
thousand fruit trees have been set out upon 
the place recently. 

August 14. 1861, just eight days before 
he became a soldier in the army of his coun- 
try, Cyril H. Tyler was united in marriage to 
Miss Mary E. Foote. in Kalamazoo county. 
She is a native of the state of New York, 
born .\pril 9, 1830. The yoiuig wife was 
nuich rejoice<l at the return of her young 
soldier husband. They immediately set up 
housekeei)ing and proceeded to enjoy the 
honeymoon that had been interrupted rudcl\- 
by the call of the youthful husband to the 
front. The\- are the parents of tliree 
daughters, intelligent, educated and accom- 
plished. They are Carrie E., Laura A. and 
Bessie E. Carrie is the wife of A. W. Peck, 
who is a salesman, and they reside at 
Traverse City, Michigan. 

Cyril H. Tyler is something of a politi- 



WEXFORD COUNTY. MICHIGAN. 



453 



cian and is an active and zealous worker on 
helialf of his party, being a Prohibitionist, 
sincere, consistent and de\oted to the cause. 
He lias served as chairman of tlie county 
central committee a number of years and al- 
though defeat has stared them in the face 
each successive campaign, the adherents of 
the cause never surrender. He has unbounded 
faith in the success of the prohibition princi- 
ple eventually. He is a member of Oliver 
P. Morton Post No. 54, Grand Army of the 
Republic, at Manton. Both he and his wife 
are de\ out members of the Methodist Epis- 
copal church, regular attendants upon its 
ser\ice and have always been earnest work- 
ers in the cause of religion and charity. He 
is a man who is admired and respected by 
his neighbors for his sincerity. Many of 
those who are most diametrically opposed to 
his views on politics and religion admire the 
man, even though they dislike the opinions 
which he entertains. 



LUCIUS A. DUNTON. 

Cedar Creek township finds a worthy 
representative of its agricultural interests in 
Lucius A. Dunton, who resides on a good 
farm on section 23, which is his property and 
represents his life of industry, for all that 
he has has been acquired through his own 
efiforts. His farm is eighty acres in extent 
and more than half of this is richly culti- 
vated, while good buildings have been 
erected and the home is very pleasant and hos- 
pitable. 

Mr. Dunton is one of the native sons of 
Michigan, his birth having occurred in Tlr.lly 
township, Oakland county, on the 27th of 



August, 1857. He is a son of John W. and 
Mary Ann (Cook) Dunton. l)oth of whom 
are now deceased. The mother died in 
Holly township, Oakland county, when only 
thirty-five years of age, and the father, sur- 
viving her for some time, departed this life 
in Eaton county, Michigan, in the sixty- 
sixth year of his age. The subject of this 
review is the fifth of their six children. He 
remained in the place of his nativitv until 
he reached the age of ten years, when he 
accompanied his father on his removal to 
Genesee county, Michigan, and there ]-.u- 
cius A, Dunton grew to manhood. He is 
indebted to the public schools of the state 
for the educational privileges which he re- 
ceived and which fitted him for life's practi- 
cal duties. After jniling aside his text 
books he began earning his own livelihood 
and was employeil as a farm laborer for ten 
vears in Livingston count}', Michigan. 

As a companion and heli)inate on life's 
journey Mr. Dunton chose Miss Carrie E. 
Perry, their wedding being celebrated in Ty- 
rone townshij), Livingston county, on the 
9th of December, 1S85. It was in that 
townshiij that the lady was born on the 23d 
of Mav, 1867, a daughter of George G. and 
Mary A. (Petty) Perry, who are residents 
of Livingston county. Their family num- 
ber twelve children, of whom Mrs. Dunton 
was the sixth. Jn March, 1S86, the sub- 
ject arrived in Wexford county, accompan- 
ied bv his wife, and they began their domes- 
tic life iiere upon the farm which has now 
been their home for seventeen consecutive 
years. During this period Mr. Dunton has 
wrought many changes in the appearance of 
the land which came into his possession at 
the time of his .irrival. He owns eighty 
acres and of this fortv-five acres is contained 



454 



WEXFORD COUNTY, MICHIGAN 



within fields which are annually plowed, 
])laiited and jirodnce good crops, lie also 
lias rich ])asture lands and a good grade of 
stock. He ifses the latest improved ma- 
chinery in the cultivation of his farm and his 
property is now valuable and is an indication 
of his active, energetic career. 

The home of Mr. and Mrs. Duniun was 
blessed with four children, Init they lost one 
.son in infancy, while drace died at the age 
I if nineteen mmulis. The living sons are 
jiihn \l. and Harold J., buth at home with 
their parents. Mr. Dunton is an active 
partv worker and is a man whose influence 
li?.s ever been un the side nf progress and 
of the right. He is deeply interested in 
e\erything pertaining to the moral, social, 
intellectual and material welfare of his com- 
munity. Both he and his wife occupy an 
en\iable position in the regard nt their many 
friends and the h(isi)itality (if the best homes 
I if this section of the country is freely ac- 
cordetl them. They arc popular people be- 
cause of their cordial manner and many ex- 
cellent characteristics and it is with pleasure 
that the record of their lives is here pre- 
sented. 



ARTHUR H. W 1:.1!CER. 

One of the conspicuous ligures in the 
commercial circles of L'adillac is the rej)- 
resentativc business man and prominent 
citizen to a brief outline of whose life and 
character the reader's atention is herewith 
respectfully invited, .\rthur II. Webber, 
the leading druggist of this city and a man 
whom to know is to honor, is a native of 
( ieauga counlv, ( )hio, where his birth oc- 
curred on the -'6lh day of April, 1X5(1. he 



being the .son of Charles and Henrietta Web- 
ber. When he was about three years old his 
parents mo\ed to Linden, Genesee count}', 
Michigan, in which town he spent his child- 
hood and youth and in the public schools of 
which he recei\ed his preliminary education. 
Actuatetl by a laudalile desire for a more 
ihorough mental training than the common 
schools could impart he subsequently became 
a student of the Northern Indiana Normal 
School and P.usiness College at N'alparaiso, 
where he pursued f(_>r some time the 
higher branches of learning, meanwhile re- 
ceiving his initiatiori into more practical af- 
fairs of life by serving a two and a half years 
ajjprenticeship in pharmacy, under the di- 
rection of Charles Brown, who kept a drug 
store in the town of Linden. 

Later, in the spring of 1S81, Mr. Web- 
ber went to l^ig Rapids, Michigan, where 
for a period of two years he worked in a 
drug store kept by Charles Wagner and at 
ihc expiration of that time formed a part- 
nership in the drug business at the same 
place with Dr. W. A. Hendricks, the Firm, 
under the name of W. A. Hendricks & Com- 
pany, lasting imtil 1883, when the subject 
pmchased the Doctor's interest and became 
sole proprietor. After running the business 
at Big Rapids with varied success until 1887, 
he removed to Cadillac, where he bought a 
stock of drugs Ijelonging to R. J. Cummer 
(S; Comi)any. and fnnn that time to the ])res- 
ent day he made this city his honie, his busi- 
ness career the meantime presenting a series 
oi successes which fully entitles him to the 
high reputation which he now enjoys as the 
leading druggist in the ])lace, also as one of 
the most enterprising and ])rogrcssive men in 
ibis section of ihc state. The drug business 
is onlv |)art of .Mr. Webber's general busi- 



IVEXFORD COUKTV, MICHIGAN. 



455 



ness. His first \enture in Cadillac was a 
drug store only, i)ut from time to time he has 
adcled new departments as the w;mts of the 
peiiple seemed to demand, nntil at the 
present time the business includes drugs, 
stationery, books, furniture, crockery, wall 
pa])er, carpets and bazaar lines ; in fact, it is 
what might be considered a modern, up-to- 
date department store. The store space oc- 
cupied by this firm is about sixteen thousand 
square feet, making it the largest retail in- 
stitution north of Grand Rapids. Mr. \\'el>- 
hev is also interested in real estate, the 
growth of Cadillac hax'ing demonstrated t<i 
him the need of more homes. The Home 
Building and Realty Company of Cadillac, 
of which he is president, is the outgrowth of 
this fact. 

From the beginning of his career Air. 
Webber has been remarkably prosperous, 
owing to the energy he has injected into 
the business and to the good judgment and 
discretion displayed in the purchase and dis- 
pla\' of his st<ick, to which may be added his 
careful selectiiin of clerks, as he employs 
nunc but well i|u;diHeil and judicinus men to 
a.ssist iiim in handling the large amount of 
business that has come to him with each re- 
curring year. y\v. Webber is a close student 
of i)harmacv and has in\-estigated the science 
fnjm every conceivable standpoint. He 
has a strong analytical mind, which has been 
strengthened and disciplined by thorough 
training, the result being a broad and com- 
l)rehensivc knowledge which he is able to 
.■i]>])l\- ])racticrdl\-, his abilitx' .'ind slvill so win- 
ning the confidence of the ]iublic as to liring 
iiim a large and constantlv increasing p:il- 
ronage. Keeping in close touch with the 
limes on all matters relating to his cliosen 
calling, Mr. Webber has achieved more than 



local rejmtalion, as is attested by the fact of 
his basing been elected, in li^Hg. president 
of the Michigan I'liarmaccutical .\ssociation. 
an honorable post to which only the best 
known and most highly qualified men of tlie 
profession are called. Later he was chosen 
delegate to the meeting of the National Re- 
tail Druggists' Association, which held its 
session in Cincinnati in 1899. and in 1900 
he was further honored by representing the 
Xational Association of Retail Druggists 
at Detroit. His wide-spread popularity as 
a learned and skillful pharamacist has re- 
cently found e.xpression in his appointment 
by Goxei'uor Bliss to a place on the state 
board of pharmacy, an honor which he 
greatly appreciated and in which his many 
friends in Cadillac and throughout Michigan 
leel something akin to ])ersonal pride. In 
his political affiliations ]Mr. Webber has been 
a lifelong Repubh'can. While deeply inter- 
ested in his partv's welfare and laboring 
zealousl}- for its success in local, state and 
national aft'airs. he is not an ofifce seeker, 
neither has he an}' aml)ition for public dis- 
tincti(.)n of anv kmd, nor has he exer aspired 
to leadership. His serxices, however, have 
been duly recognizetl and appreciated, as 
witness his ai)pointment in 1899, antl again 
the year following, to the chairmanship of 
the senatorial committee for the twenty- 
'-e\-enth district, which position he h;is since 
held by successive reappointments. 

Fraternally Mr. Webber belongs to sev- 
cr;d secret and benevolent orders, ])romi- 
nent among which are the Masons, l\nii.;hts 
of IMhias and Knights of the Loyal (iuard. 
Additiourd to these he is ;i le;iding spii'it in 
tlu' Hoard of Tr.ide ot Cadillac, of which he 
is now presiflent. He has done much to 
promote the city's material welfare, also by 



WEXFORD COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



means of this agency spreading the reputa- 
tion of the place aljroad and inducing men 
of means to i)ut tlicir ca])ital in W'extord 
counl)' real estate as a safe ;in(l remuiiera- 
ii\x' investment. Mr. \\'ei)ber's eftorts since 
l.icdming a citizen of Cadillac have not been 
circumscribed within the bounds of his own 
l)usiness interests, as he has been, in a large 
sense, a public-spirited man, lending his in- 
Huence and at times his more tangible aid 
to enc(jurage enterprises for the upholding 
of tlie cit}'. materially and along other lines. 
I le is an earnest friend and zealous advocate 
of all agencies tending to the social advance- 
ment and moral welfare of the communitv. 
hence churches, schools, benevolent societies, 
pul)lic charities and like organizations en- 
list his encouragement and support. A man 
of broad mind and progressive ideas, there 
is nothing little or narrow in his nature; de- 
spising wliat is mean and low, detesting the 
base and recognizing tlie false and hypo- 
critical, he discerns in every honest man, 
however poor and humble, the true essence 
of honorable character which besjjeaks ties 
of brotherhood and reciprocity of interests. 
Mr. Webber possesses a i)leasing personal- 
ity, is easily approachable and all who come 
within range of his influence are profu.se in 
their praise for his many amiable qualities, 
among which a genial disposition, a com- 
j)anional)le nature and an optimistic tempera- 
iiienl ,'tre cspecirdlv conspicuous. His in- 
tegrity is above rcproacli. his character 
strong but clear ;uid transi);u"cnt as an open 
book" in which are no black or blotted ])ages, 
;iud his name is synonv'nious with all that is 
honorable in manhood :ind upright and 
straightforward in citizenship. Religiously 
the Congregational church represents his 
creed and for a number of years past he has 



been an active and zealous member of the 
society worshipping in Cadillac, Ijeing at the 
present time chairman of the churcii board 
of trustees. 

Air. Webber has a beautiful and attractive 
lionie. the presiding genius of which is a lady 
of culture and refinement to whom he was 
united in marriage September i, i8Sf). Mrs. 
Webber was formerly Miss Lucie M. Morri- 
son, of Grand Rapids, whose father was for 
manv vears one of the leading citizens and 
founders of Kent county, also one of the 
tirst probate judges, while her mother was 
an active particijiant in the orj^anization and 
work of charitable institutions in (irand 
Rapids. 

Airs. Weblier has been a true wife and 
iielpmate, ;i lit comi)anion for the husliand 
whose name she honorably bears, assisting 
him in many ways, co-operating with him 
in his business enterprises, encouraging him 
in all his laudable endeavors, and proving a 
constant inspiration to him in all the walks 
and relations of life. One child. Harold, a 
bright son, eleven years old. comi)letes the 
.subject's mutually helpfid and hapi)y family 
circle. 



D.\Xlb:LE. K.MSF.R. 

A ])erson travelling through almost an_\' 
of the st.ates I)orderin<^ on the Lanadi.'ui line 
cannot fail to be impressed with the luiniber 
of native Canadians who have located be- 
neath the stars ;uid strii)es and become true 
.and loval American citizens. The first 
(piestion tliat suggests itself to the traveler 
is, was it simi)Iy a spirit of restlessness and 
desire for a change that caused tliis large 
immigration on the part of our neigliliors 



JV EX FORD COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



467 



;icross the border? If it was, would not an 
inquiry into tlie nativity of the population 
on the other side of the line disclose an equal 
number of natives of the United States 
domiciled in Canada ? It does not, how- 
ever, disclose any such conditions, so that the 
conclusion is forced upon us that this coun- 
try affords better opportunities for the 
average man of moderate means than does 
the Canadian provinces. Zealous Cana- 
dians would, doubtless, be inclined to deny 
this, but the facts are certainly against them. 
Howe\er it may be, it is quite certain that 
a very large percentage of the most enter- 
prising citizens of the state of Michigan 
came originally from the Dominion. The 
subject of this review, Daniel E. Kaiser, 
has benefited himself and added to the wealth 
of the state of his adoption by abandoning the 
jjlace of his nativity tn become an inhal)itant 
of the great republic. 

Daniel Iv. Kaiser, a resident of sec- 
ti(_Mi 2(1. Clam Lake township, is a native 
of Canada, liorn near Toronto, \'aughn 
county, Ontario. June 6. 1844. in his na- 
li\'e country lie was reared, educated and 
grew to manhood. When twenty-on.e years 
of age, in 1865, he came to Montcalm 
county, Michigan, where he engaged in farm- 
ing and resided until 1881, when, in Febru- 
ary of that year, he came to Wexford county 
and located on his present farm in Clam 
Lake township. 

In Cedar Springs, Kent county, Michi- 
gan, on the 31st day of December, 1868, 
Daniel E. Kaiser was united in marriage to 
Miss Amanda Van Meer, a n.itive of Canada, 
born October 10, 1851. Immediately after 
uiariage they came to Clam Lake township 
and took up their residence upon the farm 
(jwned by him on section 26, where they 



have since continuously resided, cultivating 
the soil and yearly adding to their possessions. 
Nine years of the time he has resided on the 
farm he was in the emplov of La Bar & 
Cornwell, in Cadillac. He owns eighty 
acres of land, sixty of which is impro\ed 
and in a fine state of cultixation. To Mr. 
.and Mrs. Kaiser two children, Nettie and 
Jerry, have been born, both intelligent and 
possessed of much strength of mind and 
body. 

The politics of his adopted country has 
no little fascination for Mr. Kaiser and there 
are few men in Wexford county better in- 
formed on e\'ery political topic that may be 
under consideration. He is a loyal Repub- 
lican and actively interested in the success 
of that party. In religion he is a member 
of the Methodist Episcopal church, is de- 
vout and regular in his attendance upon its 
services, and the cause of religion, morality 
and charilv ha\'e no nmre staunch and true 
friend and ad\dcate than he is. Persi.>nally 
he is pleasarjt and genial, frank and candid 
to the utmost degree, a man whose friend- 
ship can always be dependetl upon and an 
enumeration of whose friends would be as 
his acquaintances. 



RALPH W. CRAWFORD. 

In the perspecti\-e of human thought and 
action is often found the lamentable condi- 
tion which justifies the words of the poet, 
"Some with lives that come to nothing'; some 
with deeds as well undone," and yet the 
close observer needs never lack for objective 
lesson and incentive through worthy lives 
and worthy deeds in all fields of human en- 



458 



WEXFORD COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



(leavor. In every American community to- 
day tlie youny man in business is a distinc- 
tive factor, and in tlie city of Cadillac the 
field of newspaper enleri)rise has an able rej)- 
resentative in the ])erson of Mr. Crawford, 
who is associated with Jnhn M. Terwilliger 
in the ])ublication of the Cadillac Globe, an 
individual sketch of the life of his partner ap- 
pearing on another page of this work, while 
in the connection is also given an outline of 
the history of the paper, so that a detailed re- 
capitulation is not demanded at this juncture. 
The editors and proprietors of the Glol^e are 
both alert and thorough-going young busi- 
ness men and the success which has attended 
their efforts stands to their credit and is in 
justice due. 

Mr. Crawford was born in the town of 
\\'i»]dhull. Henry comity. Illinois, on the 
-'jth of January. 1874. being«a son of Rev. 
lolin W. Crawford. D. D.. who was a prom- 
inent and sclinlarlv clcrg\-nian of the Presby- 
terian church and who died in Monett. Barry 
ciiunty, Missouri, in iSgj. at the age of six- 
ty-three \ears. his life ha\ing been one of 
signal cmisecration and usefulness. His 
wife, whose maiden name was Emma \'an 
Nice, is still li\ing. Se\en children were 
born of this nnioti. of whom the sixth was 
ka!i)h \\'.. the immediate subject of this 
sketch, while of tJie nmnber f'ue are still liv- 
ing. The early years of Ralph W. Crawford 
were jiassed ])rincipally in Kansas and Mis- 
souri, the family remo\ing from place to 
l)lacc. as the clericrd duties nf the father de- 
manded. .\fter receiving a common-.scliool 
educatinii he entered the Strickler lUisiness 
College, in the city of Topeka. Kansas, 
where he completed a ci>urse of study, after 
which he secured employment in a printing 
office at I'dlsworth, that state, where he re- 



mained three years, gaining a thorough and 
practical knowledge of the meclianical de- 
tails of the art. He later was employed at 
his trade in \aricius places. In i8y6 he as- 
sumed charge of a weekly pa])er. the Eagle, 
at Monett, Missouri, and about eighteen 
months later he located in Purdy, that state, 
where he conducted a paper for a short time, 
and then disposed of the business and came 
to Cadillac. Michigan, where, in July. 1899. 
he purchased a half interest in the Cadillac 
Globe, which had been established by his 
partner, Mr. Terwilliger. In politics Mr. 
Crawford gi\es his allegiance to the Repub- 
lican party, and fraternally he is identified 
with Clam Lake Camp No. 1596. of the 
Modern Woodmen of America. He is ])op- 
ular in the business and social circles of the 
comnuinity and is known as an able and dis- 
criminating newspaper man, the (ilobe hav- 
ing attained marketl prestige and a liberal 
snp[)i irting patronage. 



JOHN HARN'EV. 

The farming interests of Wexford coun- 
ty find a worthy representative in John Har- 
vey, who is living on section 14. Autioch 
township. He is one of the \alneil citizens 
of Michigan that England has furnished to 
the state, his birth having occurred in War- 
wick.shire on the "merrie isle." on the joth 
of March. iS^S. His father also bore the 
name nf Jdhn Harvey and the mother's 
maiden name was I'llizabeth I'.inlkncr. 
Tliev s])eiU their entire li\es in Engl'iml, .Mr. 
Har\ey passing away between the age of 
'^ixly and seventy years, while his wife de- 
parted this lil"e at the age of seventy-six 
years. Thev were the parents of nine chil- 




JOHN HARVEY'S FAKM. 



WEXFORD COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



459 



dren, of wiiom the subject of tin's rex-iew is 
liie seventh in order of birth. 

In liis native country John Harvey was 
reared and at the usual ag"e he entered the 
public scliools. He remained in England un- 
til twenty-two years of age and in his early 
life he was employed as a groom and also 
worked as a farm hand for about a year 
prior to his emigration to America. Hearing 
favorable reports of the opportunities af- 
forded in the new world, he determined to 
seek his fortune h.ere and in the spring of 
1870 he batle adieu to his friends and native 
land and sailed for the United States. 
Landing at Xew V(jrk he came then to Kent 
county, Michigan, where he located for 
about three years, during which time he 
lived upon a farm. In May, 1873, he ar- 
rived in Wexford county and here he ac- 
quired and cleared a tract of land. Later 
he purchased one liundred and twenty acres 
of land in Antioch township and since the 
spring of 1S73 ^^^ 'i''* m^ide his home in this 
township. During the winter months he 
worked in the lumber woods and in the sum- 
mer seasons de\(_iletl -his attentimi to agri- 
cultural pursuits. The result of his labors 
is seen in the fine farm which he now owns. 
He has one hundred and eighty acres on 
section 14, .\ntioch township, and of this 
about one hundred and forty acres is under 
cultivation. He has erected g'ood buildings 
ui)iin his farm and has a \erv fine orchard of 
apple and peach trees, ciim])rising ten acres. 
Michigan is celebrated throughuut the length 
and breadth of this land for the high grade 
of peaches which it pr(uluces and there are 
no better specimens of this fine fruit U- he 
found anywhere tiian is shipped fri>m the 
farm of Mr. Har\e\'. 

On the 5th of .\pril, 18S4, in L'olfax 



township, Wexford county, Mr. Harvey was 
united in marriage to Miss Emma Pettit, 
who was 1)1 )rn in Valparaiso, Indiana, on the 
13th of July, 1858, and is a daughter of 
Thomas and Mary .\nn ( Martin) Pettit, 
who were early settlers of Colfax township, 
taking up their abode there in 187 1. They 
continued their residence in that locality un- 
til called to the home beyond, the father pass- 
ing away when about seventy-two years of 
age. while the mother's death occurred when 
she was seventy-eight years of age. In their 
family were nine children, of whom ]\Irs. 
Harvey was the eighth in order of birth. 
The home of the subject and his wife has 
been l)lessed with but one child, .Vnna E. 
Mrs. Har\-ey is an estimable lady, possessed 
of many excellent traits of character of 
heart and mmd and these have endeared her 
to a large circle of friends. She presides 
with gracious hospitality over her pleasant 
home and her genial, cordial manners have 
made her popular with all with whom she has 
Come in contact. 

Mr. Har\ey has held sonie of the minor 
offices of Anliiich township, but has ne\'er 
been an active politician in the sense of of- 
fice seeking, preferring to devote his energies 
to his business affairs, in which he has la- 
bored untiringly. His excellent property is 
indicative of his life of industry and useful- 
ness, and, moreover, his business methods 
have been honorable and in all things he is 
straightforward, li\ing a life that is as an 
open book whicli all may read. 



(iL'ST.WF. '.WDERSOX. 

It is considered i)y those in the habit of 
sujjerficial thinking that the history of so 
called great men only is worthy of pre.serva- 



460 



WEXFORD COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



tion and tliat little merit exists among the 
masses to call forth the praise of the histor- 
ian or the cheers and appreciation of man- 
kind. I'ew greater mistakes have heen 
made. No man is great in all things and 
\ery few are great in many things. Many 
liy a Incky stroke achieve lasting fame, who 
liefore that had no reputation heyond the 
limits of their neighborhoods. It is not a 
history of the lucky stroke which benefits 
humanit}- most, but the long study and ef- 
fort which made the lucky stroke possible. 
It is the preliminary work, the method, that 
serves as a guide for others. Among those 
of foreign birth and education who in this 
country have achieved a fair measure of suc- 
cess along steady lines of action is the sub- 
ject of this re\iew, Gustave .\nderson, of 
the third ward in the city of Cadillac. The 
fact that the first thirty years of his life 
were spent in his native land, Sweden, did 
not militate against him in the least in the 
acc<)m])lishmcnt of a successful business 
career in America, the land of his adoption, 
(justaxc Anderson was born in Sweden 
September ii. i<S4r. The first tliirt}- years 
of his life were spent in his native land, 
where he secured a good common school edu- 
cation and where he learned habits of in- 
dustry, thrift and economy, which have been 
most useful to him in the land of his adop- 
tion and have contributed not a little to the 
success which he has achieved. In no ])art 
of F.uro])e. indeed it may be truthfully said 
lliat in no p.'iri of the world .are the advan- 
tages and opportunities equal to those to be 
encountered by the average individual in the 
L'nited States. .\ knowledge of this truth 
was early brought to the attention of the 
subject of this .sketch. He therefore bent 



every energy to make immigration to the 
L'niletl States possible. The better to ac- 
complish so desirable a consummation, he 
became engaged to be married to a comely 
3'oung girl in the neighborhood and, appre- 
ciating the fact that with her to help him 
practice economy his sa\ings would be 
greater, he hastened the ceremony by which 
they were united. It was only a very short 
time after Miss Johanna Johnson became 
Mrs. Gustave Anderson that the worthy 
young couple found themselves financially 
in a position to pay all necessary expenses of 
the \oyage across the ocean and leave them 
a comfortable little sum to give them a 
start in the new world. On arriving in 
America, in 1871, he procured employment 
on a railroad in Xew Jersey. They fitted 
themselves up nicely in housekeeping and 
for two years prospered most gratifyingly. 
!\nowing that New Jersey was only a small 
part of the l'nited States and believing that 
opportunities along the Atlantic coast might 
be far inferior to what they might find 
farther in the interior, they moved to Minne- 
sota. l)nt remained there only a short time, 
when they came to Wexford county. They 
arrived here in the spring of 1873, and. true 
to the energy in which he had been 
.schooled, lie lost no time in finding employ- 
ment in the mills in Cadillac. l*"or 
eleven years he worked in the saw-mills, 
losing little time and allowing none of the 
dollars that he earned to escape him except 
for absolute necessities. When his savings 
justified it. he purchased a tract of land in 
what was then Haring township and he is 
now the owner of one hundred and twenty- 
seven and a half acres, fifty-four of which 
are well improved with good buildings, a 



WEXFORD COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



461 



nice residence, bam, stables, oiitbouses, and 
other necessary appurtenances for making it 
a well equipped and desirable farm. Hav- 
ing established himself comfortably on the 
farm, he turned over his job in the saw- 
mill to some one less fortunate than himself 
and has since devoted himself exclusixely 
to the tilling of his land, the planting and 
(lie gathering of his crops anil making such 
improvements upon his farm as his time and 
his means will allow. 

Early in the spring of 1875, ^"^ four 
years after leaving his native land and only 
two years after having taken up her abode in 
Wexford county, Mrs. Johanna (Johnson) 
Anderson departed this life, leaving two 
children as pledges of her love to her be- 
reaved husband, both girls, Belinda and Ma- 
tilda. The latter has since Ijecome the wife 
of Charles Olson. Yowv other children were 
liDrn to this union, but they died in early 
childhood. On Xovemlier i, 1875, Gus- 
lave Anderson was again married, his bride 
on this occasion being Louisa Johnson, also 
a native of Sweden. She has shown herself 
to be a worthy woman, a faithful wife and 
a kind antl indulgent mother. They are the 
parents of five children, viz. : Anna, .\1- 
fred. David. Ralph and Silas. Anna, the 
oldest child of the family, is the wife of 
Charles Anderson. 

The subject of this sketch permits no 
outside issues to interfere with his business. 
He is as prudenth' parsinionious of liis time 
as he is of his means and year by vear he is 
adding to his possessions in a manner to as- 
tonish i)ersons not inclined to ])ursue the 
.same methods. Scrupulously honest, pru- 
dent in all things, simple in his habits and 
content with the conditions which sur- 
rounded him. the next ten or twentv vears 



will certainly see him among the most pros- 
perous people in that part of Michigan 
where he resides. 



T. HENRY CALLIS. 

Some men are ex-er seeking positions in 
the public service. They are standing candi- 
dates at each successive election and though 
often encountering defeat, they come up smil- 
ingly at the next convention with all the easy 
grace and confidence of a man who has ne\er 
known disappointment. Then there is an- 
other class of men who are modest even to 
docility, lacking in self-assertion, to whom 
aggressiveness is whollv foreigii. vet who 
find it impossible to keep out of oftice. With- 
out solicitation whatever on their part, they 
are chosen again and again to offices of pub- 
lic trust and responsibility. There is a cause 
for this and it doubtless will be found in the 
fact that modesty, when coupled with abil- 
ity, is ever appreciated by the general public, 
while the blatant place-hunter, who is ever 
a most selfish creature, is sure to receive the 
contempt which his self-assertion merits. 
The subject of this biography. T. Henry 
Callis. is one of those men whom his fellow 
citizens love to honor. He has held various 
public positions, none of which, however. 
were secured through his own seeking. For 
nearly thirty years be has been a resident of 
Wexford county and during that time the 
people have had ample opportunity to form 
a just estimate of the man, with the result 
that he occupies today an enviable position 
among his fellow citizens. 

T. Henry Callis is a native of the city 
of Philadel])hia. Pennsylvania, born August 
27. 1854. His jiarcnts were John and Eliza 



462 



IV EX FORD COUNTY. MICHIGAN. 



(Morris) Callis, natives of England who 
came to America about the middle of the last 
century and settled in the "City of Brotherly 
Love," where they remained a number of 
years. Thev were the parents of ten chil- 
dren, of whom the subject was the eighth. 
When he v as two years old, in 1856. the 
family came to Washtenaw county. Michi- 
gan, locating on a farm in Augusta town- 
ship. The mother is now deceased, w hile the 
lather still resides on the place. On this 
farm the suliject was reared and grew to 
manhood. He attended the district school 
during the winter months and devoted him- 
self during the other months of the year to 
the duties of the farm. So well did he em- 
ploy his time in the school room that by the 
time he was old enough to take charge of and 
govern a school he was amply qualified for 
the employn'ient. He continued to reside in 
Washtenaw count}-, devoting his time to 
farming uiiitl 1N74. when he came to Wex- 
ford county, where for a luimbcr of vears he 
followed the same lines of lab(.)r. 

June 8. 1879, Mr. Callis was united in 
marriage to i\Ii.ss Delia A. Mattesoii, a na- 
tive of Avon. Lorain county. Ohio, born 
April Ji, 1862. Her parents were .\bner L. 
and Susan (Card) Matteson, natives of the 
state of New York. The family came from 
Ohio to Wexford county, Michigan, some 
two years previously. He secured a fanu in 
Colfax townshi]), upon which he built a home 
and there they continued to reside until death 
claimed the worthy and devoted couple. Her 
death occurred April 14, 1882. he surviving 
her a little more than four years, expiring 
July i_^. iS,S6. F,ach was about sixty years 
old at the time of death. Mrs. Callis is the 
youngest of a family of eight children. She 
;ind her husband are the jjarents of four cliil- | 



dren, viz: Edith ]\I., .\lwin B., Eftie X. and 
Morris C. Edith is the wife of Lewis B. 
Judd. 

About the time of bis marriage Mr. Cal- 
lis became the owner of sixty acres of land in 
Cedar Creek township and soon afterward 
the young couple established their abode 
thereon. The tract is well imi)ro\ed and 
sui)])lied with all necessary buildings, which 
are far superior to the average farm struc- 
tures. There are thirty-two acres under cul- 
tivation and the place is well stocked and 
supplied with all necessary implements and 
machinery for its proper operation. Its 
owner is an intelligent, progressive and thor- 
ough farmer, one who beliex'es in the policy 
of a little farm well tilled. 

In ])olilics r. Ilenrv Lallis is independ- 
ent, anil the manner in which he has been 
honored by his fellow citizens precludes the 
possibility of his Ijeing a bitter partisan. 
During the years from 1893 to 1895, inclu- 
sive, he represented his township on the 
county board of sujjcrvisors. Lie serxed also 
as township clerk and for four years has been 
a memljer of the board ot school examiners 
of Wexford county. He has been for several 
years president of the Wexford County 
I'^irniers Institute and in 1894 was tlie enum- 
erator f(ir the township in which he lives. 
He and his worthy wife, who has contributed 
much to the success and popularity of her 
husband, ;ue members of Rose Hill Cirange 
No. 949, J'atrons of Husbandry. IVIr. and 
]VIrs. Callis are classed among the most in- 
telligent and refined residents of Cedar Creek 
township and consequently enjoy the respect 
and esteem of their neighbors to an unusual 
degree. \o words of commendation that 
can here be ad<lc<l could enhance the regard 
ill which the\' ;ire held. 



WEXFORD COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



463 



MARVIN D. COLMN. 

AIar\in D. Col\in is the nwner of a val- 
iK'.lile and highly improved farm of two iiun- 
(h'ed acres situated on section ii, Wexford 
township. This property is tlie visible evi- 
dence of his life of industry, his well directed 
labors and his sound judgment in liusiness 
afTairs. lie is today classed among- the rep- 
resentati\e ancl highly respected agricultur- 
ists of his community and it is with pleas- 
ure that the record of his life is here pre- 
sented. .\ native of the Empire state, be was 
born in Cattaraugus county on the 13th of 
b'ebruary. 1874. His father, Barton Colvin, 
was also born in Xew York and wedded 
Miss Alma Holmes, w ho died in Cattaraugus 
county. In the year 1883 the father came 
to Michigan, establisiiing his home in Wex- 
ford county. He is now- an esteemed resi- 
dent of Traverse City and is in politics a 
Democrat. 

Marvin D. Colvin accompanied his father 
on bis renio\'al to the west and since 1883 
has resided continuously in Wexford town- 
ship. He was a youth of nine years at the 
time of bis arrival and therefore the period 
of his entire manhood has been spent in 
this county where be is now so widely and 
favorably known. He obtained his educa- 
tion in the public schools and was reared to 
farm life. After reaching years of maturity 
be was married, in Bay Shore, Michigan. 
on the 27th of January, 1897, to Miss Edith 
L. Worth, a native of Wexford county, born 
January 17, 1874, and they now have two 
interesting children, Margery W^ and Floris 
H. Mrs. Colvin was educated in the Sher- 
man public school and at Benzonia College, 
and was a successful teacher in Wexford 
and Benzie counties. Theirs is a pleasant 



home, celebrated for its cordial hospitality, 
and tiieir many friends delight to gather 
there. Mr. Col\-in de\otes bis energ'ies to 
agricultvu'al jnu'suits and his farm, compris- 
ing two hundred acres of rich land, indi- 
cates bis careful supervision in its neat and 
thrifty appearance. He has good farm 
buildings upon liis place, including bis nice 
residence, a commodious barn and other 
buildings for the shelter of grain and stock. 
Everytliing is kept in good repair and this is 
one of the model farms of the twentieth 
century. 

In jiulilic affairs Mr. Colvin has also 
been somewhat ])i'oniinL'nt and for three 
years he has serx'ed as justice of the peace, 
proving a competent officer. His life has 
been one of industry and be has never taken 
advantage of the necessities of his fellow' 
men in any trade transaction, but has won 
bis prosperity through honorable business 
methods that will bear the closest in\'estiga- 
tion and scrutin}-. 

Politically Mr. Colvin belongs to Lodge 
No. T,"!. Free and Accepted Masons, to 
Castle No. 212, Knights of Pythias, and to 
Wexford Camp No. 8r>47, Modern \\'ood- 
men of .\merica. in which be has held the 
office of venerable consul. Mrs. Colvin 
belongs to the Order of the Eastern Star 
and is also a memljer of the Christirni 
church. 



SYLAESTER R. SEAMAN. 

Success in tins life comes to the deserv- 
ing. It is an axiom demonstrated by all hu- 
man ex])erience that a man gets out of life 
what he ])uls into it, plus a reasonable inter- 
est on the inxestment. The individual who 



464 



WEXl-ORD COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



inherits a large estate and adds nothing to 
his fortune cannot be called a successful man. 
He that falls heir to a large fortune and in- 
creases its value is successful in proportion 
to the amount he adds to his possessions. 
But the man who starts in the world unaided 
and by sheer force of will, controlled by cor- 
rect principles, forges ahead and at length 
reaches a position of prominence among his 
fellow citizens, achieves real success. • To a 
great extent the subject of this sketch is a 
creditable representative of the class last 
named. It is a class which has furnished 
much of the bone and sinew of the country 
and added to the stability of the government 
rmd its institutions. 

Sylvester R. Seaman, the subject of this 
review, who resides in Lii)erty township, on 
an eighty-acre farm, was born in Leonard 
township. Mecosta county, Michigan, Octo- 
ber lo, i860. His parents are Warren and 
Mary E. (Moore) Seaman. A review of the 
career of the father of the subject can be 
found in another part of this volume, under 
the head of Warren Seaman. Sylvester R. 
Seaman was the third child of a family of 
five, and was reared to the age of nine years 
in tlic county t)f his birtli. In 1869 the fam- 
ily mo\ed to W'exford county, and that coun- 
ty has since lieen his home. The family es- 
tablished their home in Cedar Creek town- 
ship and there the suljject of this review grew 
to manhood. His school days were not many 
and the educational facilities of the time and 
the locality by no means what they are today, 
but having a thirst for knowledge and a 
natural aptitude to acquire it, at the time of 
(juitting school the subject was possessed of 
a \ery fair education, lie remained under 
the i)arenta] root until he was twenty-six 



years of age, devoting a good part of his time 
to the work on his father's farm. 

December it,. 1886, Sylvester R. Seaman 
w.is united in marriage to Miss h" ranees M. 
W ilson. a native of Michigan, born June i, 
1865, the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. James 
Wilson, of Liberty township. Immediately 
after marriage the young coui)le took up 
their residence in Cedar Creek township, on 
a farm which is part of section 5, where they 
continued to live until igoo, when they 
moved to section 32, Liberty townshii). His 
farm consists of eighty acres, part of it being 
located in Liberty township and the remain- 
der in Cedar Creek township. The place is 
well improved, fifty of its acres being under 
cultivation and well improved. Mr. and 
Mrs. Seaman have an adopted chiUl, an in- 
telligent, attractive little girl, named Flossie 
M. The subject has never sought public 
office or any political preferment, but a num- 
ber of local positions in the township where 
he resides have been thrust upon him, among 
them that of school assessor and member of 
the board of review. He and his wife are 
both active members of the Free Methodist 
church in Manton. 



ESEDORE GILI5FR r. 

For almost a third of a century Fsedore 
Gilbert has been an active factor in mercan- 
tile interests in Sherman, controlling a busi- 
ness of considerable magnitutle. .\t the 
time of his arrival here the town was in the 
early stages of its development and tlirough- 
out the intervening period he has been 
prominent in the advancement of commer- 
cial .'ictisitw whereon the growth and ])ros- 



WEXFORD COUNTY. MICHIGAN. 



465 



pcrity of every town and city depends. 
Widely known, his life history cannot fail 
to pn_i\-e of interest to his manv friends and 
it is therefcire with pleasnre that this record 
is presented. 

Mr. Gilbert was b<irn npon a farm in In- 
diana, Septemljer 22, 1847. His father. 
Truman Gilbert, was also a fanner by oc- 
cupation, following that pursuit throughout 
his entire business career. The mother of 
the subject bore the maiden name of Calista 
Clark and her death occurred while she was 
visiting' in Whitewater, Wisconsin, when 
sixty-six years of age. Mr. Gilljert had 
passed away in Indiana, at the age of forty 
years. In their family were four children, 
of whom Esedore was the youngest. Dur- 
ing his early childhood, when only about a 
year and a iialf old, Esedore Gilbert was 
taken by his parents to Hillsdale, Michigan, 
where they resided for six years, and then 
settled upon a farm in Hillsdale county. 
He worked in the field and meadows during 
his youth, becoming familiar with farm 
work in its various departments, and when 
he was eighteen years of age he starteil out 
in life on his own account and has since 
depended upon his labor for all that he has 
enjoyed and achieved. Not desiring to 
make farming his life work, he left home 
and went to St. Charles, Saginaw county, 
Michigan, where he secured employment in 
a saw-mill. After two months, however, he 
removed to Big Rapids, for the purpose of 
locating pine lands. He spent about two 
years in inspecting" pine lands, at the end of 
which time he began driving a stage be- 
tween Big Rapids and Traverse City, which 
business he followed for six months. 

Mr. r.ilbert next came to Sherman and 
while the city has profited by his business 



activity, he has also found here a good field 
of labor, whferein industry has gained its 
merited reward in a comfortable cempetence. 
It was in the fall of 1S70 that he arri\-ed in 
Wexford county and for a time he engaged 
in conducting a hotel known as the Grant 
House. After a year, however, he sold out 
and accepted a clerkship in the general store 
of Maqueston Brothers, from which time 
his connection with mercantile interests in 
Sherman dates. He remained in the employ 
of that firm for four and a half years, during 
which time he gained a good knowledge of 
the methods in mercantile life and his ex- 
perience has prox'en of much \-alue to him 
in later years. His clerkship ended, he then 
embarked in business on his own account 
as a member of a firm, his partner being the 
late I. H. Maqueston. This relationship 
was maintained for five years, when Mr. 
Gilbert disposed of his interest and through 
the two succeeding years carried on mer- 
chandising alone. At the end of that time 
he merged his store into another mercantile 
establishment and continued in the same line 
of business with H. B. Sturtevant and F. D. 
Hopkins, this partnership existing for five 
or six years, during which time the firm en- 
joyed a profitable and growing patronage. 
At the end of that time Mr. Hopkins with- 
drew and the firm of Gilbert & Sturtevant 
then carried on the business until fifteen 
years had passed when Mr. Gilbert pur- 
chased the interest of his partner, who then 
retired from mercantile life. The subject 
has since been alone in the ct)nduct of a busi- 
ness, which has now assumed important and 
extensive proportions. He carries a large 
and well selected stock of goods and his 
annual sales amount to a considerable figure. 
He is reliable in his trade transactions, is 



466 



IVEXFORD COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



courteous in his treatment of his customers 
and his earnest desire to please has brought 
him a laig-e patronage. 

In Hanover townshi]). W'extnrd county. 
Mr, ("lilhert was united in niarria.t;'e h' Miss 
Mary A. l-'ox. a nati\e ni Xew Yovk. and a 

daugliter of Jeremiah and 

_( Clark) Vox. Her frulier was one of the 
honiired ])ionecr stttlors of Wexfurd county, 
casting in his lot with the earlv resideiUs 
when the era of ini])rovcment was just 
dawning here. He died in Sherman town- 
ship after reaching the I's.almist's sjjan of 
three score }ear.s and ten — a worthy citizen 
whose loss was deeply regretted. Mr. and 
Airs. Gilbert are the parents of two children. 
IMyrtle and lone, the former now the wife 
of C. C. Siemens. The parents are active 
and devoted meml)ers of the Methodist Epis- 
copal church, ;ind their aid and influence 
have been \cr\- helpful and beneficial in 
strengthening the clun-ch ;nid promoting its 
.success. Mr. (iilhert has also been a co- 
operant factor in many movements for the 
general good, his assistance being withheld 
from no measure which he believes will 
prove of benefit to his community. Hon- 
ored and respected in every class of society, 
he has for some time been a leader in thought 
and action in the public life of the town and 
county in which he makes his home. He 
has long been identified with mercantile in- 
terests in Sherman and faithfulness to duty 
and strict adherence to a fixed purpose in 
life will do more to advance a man's inter- 
ests than wealth or advantageous circum- 
stances. .\ man of distinct and forceful in- 
dixiduality and most mature judgment, he 
has left and is leaving his im])ress upon the 
commercial, social and moral de\elopment 
of the community. 



ELIJAH SMITH. 

The war of the Rebellion left its impress 
deep ;uid lasting u])on the life of many a 
vouth vet in his teens. The call to arms 
found tens of thousands only too ready to 
respond. For the first time in their lives 
they found themselves no longer restrained 
by ])arental control. Rigid military discipline 
held them in check to some extent, but it did 
not prevent ni;uiy from contracting dissolute 
and ])rolligatc habits, of which simie have not 
been able to di\est themselves exen unto this 
dav. Few indeed were as fortunate in this 
as the subject of this review. Elijah Smith, 
of Colfax township, W'e.xford county, who 
when less than nineteen years of age became 
a soldier of the L'nion, and although filling 
two terms of enlistment, returned home with 
unimpaired morals. 

Elijah Smith is a native of Xew York, 
born in Tompkins county. June 12. 1842. 
He was reared and educated in his native 
county, the extent of his learning, howexer. 
being confined to the common school 
branches. He was still beneath the parental 
roof when Sumter was fired upon and the 
most sanguinary struggle in the history of 
the world was inaugurated. Of those who 
responded to the first call of President Lin- 
coln, in \pril. iSlu, Elijah Smith was 
among the number. He enlisted as a private 
in Company K. Twenty-sixth Regiment 
New York \'oluntcer Infantry, and served 
until August. iSru. when, greatly to his re- 
gret, he was discharged for disability. Re- 
turning home to Tompkins county. Xew 
York, he, after sufficiently recovering his 
health, engaged in farming utuil .\ugust, 
i8rij. when he enlisted in Ct»mpany I, One 
Hundred and Seventy-ninth Regiment Xew 




ELIJAH SMITH GROUP. 




ELIJAH SMITH RESIDENCE. 




i^CcMA/Ay 




WEXFORD COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



4G7 



York \'olunteer Infantry, and served until 
The close of the war. He was taken prisoner 
Ijy the Confederates at Petersburg, X'irginia. 
in February. 1865. and held till the close of 
the war. Returning to his home in New 
York after the close of the war, he remained 
there farming for some time, then came to 
Michig-an. For two seasons he followed 
farming and carpentering in Ingham and 
Li\ingston counties, and then, in 1867. he 
came to \\ ex ford county and settled on a 
tract of land in Colfax townshi]). a part of 
section 28. where he has since continued to 
reside. 

In 1866 Elijah Smith was united in 
marriage to Miss Lovina Smith, a natixe 
of Ohio, who li\-ed only long enough to 
bear for her husband a pledge of lier lo\e 
in the person of a little daughter, whom they 
named Blanche. Mrs. Smith died in July. 
1875. The daughter grew to womanhood, be- 
came a refined, intellectual woman and is 
now the wife of Charles Rogers, a resident 
of Colfax township. December 23, 1878, 
Mr. Sniith was again married, his bride on 
this occasion being Mrs. Jennie McClain, 
widow of George \V. McClain and daughter 
of Enos C. and Cynthia (Whitmore) Day- 
huff. Mrs. Smith is a native of St. Joseph 
county, Indiana, born July 22, 1850. 'She 
and her husband are the parents of five chil- 
dren, only one of whom. Clara B.. the wife 
of John Roode. is now living. Anotlier 
daughter. Grace E., lived to the age of 
twenty years and then died. The other three 
children died in childhoofl. Mrs. Cynthia 
(Whitmore) Dayliuft', motlicr of Mrs. 
Smith, is still living, now in the eighty- 
second vear of her age. 

The farm upon which the subject and his 
family resides is fertile and well improved. 



In any direction a visitor may look he sees 
e\-idences of prosperity. The place is 
adorned with good, substantial buildings of 
all kinds and the condition in which they are 
kept bespeaks the thorough farmer. In con- 
nection with his conduct of the farm Mr. 
Smith has been engaged in the mercantile 
business at Meauwataka ever since he be- 
came a resident of the county. His farm 
comprises one hundred and forty acres, one 
hundred and twenty of which are clear and 
under cultivation. In all matters pertaining 
to the interests of the community in which 
he has lived Mr. Smith takes a deep and act- 
ive interest. He has been elected a number 
of times to various local positions, such as 
highway commissioner, justice of the peace, 
etc.. and has discharged the duties of the 
office to the entire satisfactionn of his con- 
stituents. He has been appointed a notary 
public and served for a number of years as 
postmaster of Meauwataka. He is a member 
of the Masonic fraternity at Cadillac, and of 
the Grand Army of the Repn1)lic. O. P. 
Morton Post of Mrniton. He' is a prudent. 
sagaci()us man. possessed of excellent judg- 
ment and thoroughly alive to his individual 
interests, as he is also to those of the general 
public. 



DANIEL McCOY. 

The subject of this rc\icw, formerly a 
prominent business man and honored citizen 
of Cadillac, is now a resident of (irand Rap- 
ids, with the industrial interests of which 
citv he has been identified for a number of 
vears. and in addition thereto be has also 
been called to high ofiicial stations, serving 
at the present time his second term as state 



408 



WEXFORD COUNTY. MICHIGAN. 



treasurer. Daniel McCoy is a native of 
Pennsylvania, born in the city of Philadel- 
phia on July 17, 1845. ii's father, John 
IVlcCoy. a native of Scotland, came to the 
L'nited States in 1832 and selled in Oakland 
county, Michigan, witli his father's family, 
whence he went to Philadelphia and spent the 
remainder of his life, dying in that city in 
the vear 1861. Mary, wife of John McCoy 
and mother of the subject, was born and 
reared in County Antrim, Ireland, came to 
this country in 1839, married in Pennsylva- 
nia, and is still living in I'hiladelphia. Pa- 
ternally, the McCoys are Scotch. They were 
last represented in the north of Ireland in 
1745, but returned to Scotland the next gen- 
eration, and in 1832, as noted above, certain 
members of the family became residents of 
the United States, since which time the de- 
scendants have settled in various parts of the 
Union. 

Daniel McCoy was educated in the 
schools of Philadelphia, and at the death of 
his father, in 1861. entered the wholesale 
hardware warehouse of Shields Brothers in 
that cilv. with the object in view of obtaining 
;i practical knowledge oi commercial life. 
Not making the progress he desired, he sev- 
ered his connection with his employers five 
years later and went to the oil fields of West 
\'irginia. near Parkersburg, and at Burning 
Springs, on the Little Kanawha, where he 
remained variously engaged until May. 1867. 
when he started west in search of a more 
favorable opening, going as far as Wyan- 
dotte. Kansas. Failing to find in that state the 
opening desired, he returned eastward. :uid 
while en route stopped to visit some relatives 
in the town of Romeo. Michigan, where in 
due time he found the ojjportunity for which 
he had long sought. Soon after his arrival 



in Romeo Mr. McCoy embarked in the sup- 
ply business, to furnish grain, provisions and 
other necessities to the men engaged in lum- 
bering in the ilichigan pineries, and to this 
line of endeavor he devoted his attention, 
with handsome profits, until 1872. In that 
\e;n- be discontinued tiie supply enterprise, 
and. in partnership with James A. Remick, 
of Detroit, and John G. Riggs. of Saginaw, 
engaged in the lumber business under the 
style of Riggs & McCoy, the scene of the 
firm's operations being confined principally 
to a large area of fine timber land on the 
south branch of the ^lanistee river. This 
partnership lasted for only a limited time. 
and about one year after its organization the 
subject came to Clam Lake and became asso- 
ciated with Charles M. Ayer, the firm thus 
constituted doing an extensive and very 
lucrative lumber business on Big Clam lake, 
and continuing the same for a period of ten 
vears. 

During his residence at Clam Lake Mr. 
McCoy took an active interest in the devel- 
o])ment of the place, served as president of 
the village, and subsequently, after its incor- 
poration as the city of Cadillac, he was elect- 
ed mayor. He did much to advance its 
industrial and commercial interests, was also 
zealt)us in promoting the educational, social 
and moral welfare of the young and thriving 
city, and few have been as influential as was 
he in shaping and directing the public policy 
of the municipality. In 1883 the firm of 
I\IcCoy & Ayer was dissolved, and the same 
vear the subject ilisposed of his business 
interests at Cadillac and removed to Crand 
Rapids, which city he has since made his 
home and in tiie ci\ic and public affairs of 
which he h,-\s l)een a prominent and inlluen- 
tial factor. 




DAYHUFF GROUP. 



V/EXPORD COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



469 



Mr. McCoy lias been honored with a 
nunilier of liigli oFlicial positions, inckiding 
that of jjresident of the State Bank of Micli- 
iyan, \\hich he has held since the organiza- 
tion of the institntion, in iiSrjj. and. as stated 
in a ])receding- [janigraph, he is now serving 
his second term as treasurer of the state, 
having been first elected to the office in No- 
vember, 1899. Among the industrial enter- 
prises with which he is identified are the 
Gram! Rapids Edison Electric Light Com- 
pany, of which he has been president since 
1886, the year of its organization; the Im- 
perial Eurniture Company of the same city, 
and the .Mfretl Baxter Company, to both of 
which he sustains the relation of execn- 
ti\'e head. He is also connected with 
the Herkner Jewelry Company, of Grand 
Rapids, and various other important inter- 
ests, with the management of which he has 
contributed in no small degree. 

Vov a numljer of years Mr. McCoy has 
taken an active part in the political affairs of 
Michigan, and he has long been recognized 
as one of the Republican leaders in tliis state. 
His induence in the councils of his party 
has had much to do with its success, antl 
the honorable position he now holds is one 
of the man)- testimonials to the confidence 
with which he is regarded bv his political 
associates and to the high esteem in which 
he is held by the public. Mr. McCoy sub- 
scribes to the Episcopal creed in matters re- 
ligious, and, with his wife, is a faithful 
member of the church in Grand Rapids and 
a liberal contributor to its sujjport and to 
various benevolences. While lo\'al to his 
own faith. he possesses a catholic si)irit. which 
sees good in all churches, and conse(|uently 
h.is financial assistrmce is bv no means con- 
fined to (jiie organization, but all lines of 



religious and charitable work have profited 
b} liis generous contributions. 

Mr. McCoy was married on tlic Kjth of 
March, \i>(i<). in Romeo, Michigan, to Miss 
uail L}-on Aver, a descendant of an old New 
T'ngiand family, the union being blessed with 
four children, as follows : Mrs. Helen Fran- 
ces Grab, born June 28, 1S71 ; Lieutenant 
Ralph McCoy, of the Twenty-seventh United 
States Infantry, Ijcjrn January zy, 1873; 
Mrs. Katherine Bracldock, born April" 20, 
1870, and Gerald, wdiose birth occurred on 
l^eceni])er 24, 1881. 



NELS P. NORDSTROM. 

The forei,gn-born citizens (if the United 
States constitute a large and important 
element in our national life and as a rule 
they are enterprising and thrifty in whatever 
field of endeavor engaged. Erom all parts 
of Europe people have flocked to our shores 
to find homes and fortunes- under the fos- 
tering influence of a free government, many 
of them acliic\-in,g distinctive precedence, in 
agriculture, commercial and inilustrial jjur- 
suits, others rising to distinguished [jronii- 
neiice in the learned professions and in the 
domains of science and art. Scandinavia 
more perhaps than an_\' other country has 
contributed to the material development and 
.general prosperity of our northern and west- 
ern states, and wdierever found this hardy 
nationalitv is noted for intelligence, enter- 
prise, thrift and a love of freedom, consis- 
tent with the hi.ghest order of .\nierican 
citizenship. Among the re])resentali\cs of 
this nationality in Wexford county, Michi- 
gan, is Nels P. Nordstrom, a progressive 



470 



WEXFORD COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



business r.iaii of Cadillac who was horn in 
Sweden on the Jjth day of May. 1857. His 
fatlicr was an agriculturist and it was un- 
der the wholesome discipline ol the farm 
that voung Xels's childhood and youth were 
spent, obtaining the meanwhile a common 
school education and later recei\ing instruc- 
tion at home from private tutors. When a 
\()ung man he took u]i cabinet-making, of 
which he served a tour-years apprenticeshij) 
and immediately after completing his term 
of service came to the L nited States, where 
he was led to believe a more attractive held 
and larger oi)|iortunities were to be found 
than his own country ottered. Mr. Nord- 
strom landed in Boston in the summer of 
iXSi and from that city came direct to Clam 
Lake. Michigan, reaching this place on the 
-jth day of the following August. I'or some 
months after his arrival he worked at dif- 
fcreiu vocations, turning his hand to any 
kind of honest employment he could find, 
but later he succeeded in obtaining a clcrk- 
shi]) in the hardware store of J. \\ . L'ummcr. 
in which capacitv he continued until iS')^. 
In that year Mr. Xordstrom engaged in the 
b:u"dware trade upon his own responsibility 
and he lias since carried on a large and Iti- 
cr.itivc business, his success being commen- 
surate with the energy and enterprise dis- 
played in the undertaking. 

Mr. Xordstrom has a well e(|uippeil store, 
carries a full line of all kinds of hardware 
demanded by the trade, and owns the build- 
ing in w hich his business is conducted. His 
progress since becoming an independent fac- 
tor in the cummercial wuriil h;is been credit- 
able in every res])ect and he stands todav 
among the leading hardware dealers in 
Cadillac, as well as among the cily"s most 
enterprising men of alTairs. Honor and in- 



tegrity have characterized his career, his re- 
lations with his patrons and with the pul)lic 
generally have been most agreeable and he 
is held in high esteem by all with whom he 
has dealings or with whoni he comes in 
contact in business or social capacities. 

Mr. Xordstrom is a public spirited man 
and ever since coming to Cadillac has as- 
sisted by every means at his command all 
enterprises for the material advancement of 
the city. His interest in the social and moral 
welfare of the community has not been sec- 
ondary to his efforts along other lines, being 
a friend and earnest advocate of measures 
for the general gocjcl of iiis k'ind, such as 
churches, .schools, charitable and benevolent 
institutions, in all of which his influence 
has been heartily enlisted. In religion he 
subscribes to the Presbyterian creed, being 
one of the leading members of that church in 
Cadillac, and in jjolitics he gives his support 
to the Rc])ublican ])arty. 

Mr. Xordstrom is a man of excellent 
mental aceiuirements, iiaving supplemented 
his scholastic training i)y a wide range of 
reading, so that he is now well informed on 
many subjects, his acquaintance with the 
world's best literature being both general 
and profound. He keeps in touch with the 
trend of modern thought in matters of state 
and national legislation, and has strong con- 
victions and decided opinions relative to the 
leading questions and issues of the day. Tn 
closing this simple sketch of a well-rounded 
character and successful business career it 
niav be profitable to pause a moment to learn 
the lesson such a life tends to teach. It is 
needless to add that Mr. Xordstrom is a self- 
made man. as all noble characters with Ciod's 
help are thus developed, l-ollow him from his 
home in the far-awav X^orthland across the 



JI'EXFORD COUNTY. MICHIGAN. 



471 



sea to a new country wliosc conditions were 
so different from tliose of his own ; contem- 
plate his experiences and strug-gles for years 
in subiirdinate capacities, ofttimes obHged to 
encounter obstacles calculated to discourage, 
but gradually overcoming everything in the 
way of success until rising to his present 
position of affluence and influence, and the 
i^eader will have an object lesson as plain as 
it is practical. It is not luck, influence or in- 
herited wealth that makes such men. liut 
work, persistence, pluck, and a laudable am- 
bition to rise superior to en\ironment. Mr. 
Nordstrom has lived well and made most 
of his opportunities and what he has already 
accomplished may be taken as a prophecy 
of still greater achievements and a wider 
tield of usefulness in vears to come. 



ELL\S MORKEN. 



Well authenticated history now concedes 
that the Norsemen or Northmen were the 
first Europeans to visit the western hemis- 
phere. Their leaders termed themsehes sea- 
kings and the recital of their undertakings 
and adventures, both on sea and land, mark 
them as kings indeed. The new country 
visited by them in the year 1002, and named 
by them \'ineland, is jjelieveil by some his- 
torians til be the coast of Labrador, by others 
to be the New England shore, but, wherever 
their Vineland may have been located, it is 
now generally conceded that they anticipated 
the discovery of Ccilumbus In- ii\e hundred 
years. That they made no use of their dis- 
covery, other than to make a record of it in 
their annals, is the reason why 1492 is as- 
signed as the date of the actual di.scovery of 



.\merica. One of the worthy descendants 
of these hardv seamen is the subject of this 
review, Elias Morken, of L berry Gro\e 
township. 

Elias Alorken is a nati\e of Norway, 
born December 26, 1840. He received a 
fair education in his native land and resided 
there the first twenty-two years of his life, 
h'ishing and sailing was the the chief occu- 
pation of the greater number of those 
\ears. Desiring to come to America and 
having the requisite amount to defray neces- 
sary expenses and leave him enough for a 
start in the new and strange land, he ad- 
justed his alTairs and in 1880 set sail for the 
L'nited States. The voyage was a pleasant 
one, and in August, 1880, he set foot on 
.American soil for the first time. Wexford 
county, Michigan, was his destination and he 
lost no time in reaching it. During the 
next years he engaged in various kinds of 
labor and then invested his means in f(.n-ty 
acres of land, a part of section 17. Cherry 
(irove townslu'i). Before leaving his native 
land he wisely tO(jk the precaution to provide 
himself with a wife, as the 1st day of No- 
\ember. 1865. at her home in Norway, he 
was united in marriage to Miss Paulina 
Hanson, a native of Norway, born June 30. 
1845. On first locating in Cherry Grove 
township, they established their home on 
section 20. where they resided eight years, 
while thev were preparing their own little 
farm in section 17 for occupancy and cul- 
ti\'ation. I'hey ha\e since established their 
hoiuc on their own land and ha\e the 
greater part of it cleared and im])ro\ed and 
are gratifyingly prosperous. They are the 
])iirents of six children, viz.: Ellen, Peter, 
Hans, Axin, Gertrude and Hannah, h'llen 
is the wife of Loe Nelson, Gertrude is mar- 



472 



WEXFORD COUNTY. MICHIGAN. 



lied to I'ioy Loxeland and Hannah has been 
^Frs. A. Carlson for some time. Tlie son 
Axin is postmaster at Axin postoffice, being 
appointed in 1899 under }kIcKinley"s admin- 
istration. He is an expert in fancy emliroid- 
ery, in silk and crewels and his handiwork- 
is much admired. Since 1889 the family 
has resided on the farm in section 17. and 
ha\e devoted themselves almost exclusively 
to agricultural pursuits. 

From his first location in Cherry Grove 
township Elias Morken has been much inter- 
ested in ail public affairs which concern it. 
He has advocated good roads, economy and 
retrenchment in the disbursement of finances 
and in the just and equitable levy and col- 
lection of taxes to defray expenses. He 
served "seven years as highway commissioner, 
four terms as treasurer of the township and 
a nun liter of times as member of the county 
boaril of review. The members of the fam- 
ily belong to the Lutheran faith, in which 
they were brought up. and are devout and 
sincere in the i)ractices of that religion. The 
father is an enterjirising, thrifty, progressive 
man. who is regarded by all as one of the 
most worth V citizens of this localitv. 



N. 



.VCOB SMITH 



There are few foreign nations that h;i\e 
contributed to the complex composition of 
our American social faliric an element of 
more sterling worth or of gre-iter \alue in 
fostering and supporting the national insti- 
tutions than have the natives of the Scandi- 
navian peninsula, who have come to and l)e- 
comc citizens of the United States. The 
men of Scan<linavia uho have located in 



America arc with very few exceptions per- 
sons of sturdy integrity, indomitable perse- 
verance, high intelligence and possessed of 
much business sagacity. Through tiiem 
there have been incorporated in our cosmopol- 
itan po])ulation many elements of enduring 
strength. The subject of this review, X. 
Jacob Smith, is a native of Sweden, and 
there his childhood, youth and early man- 
hood were spent. He is proud of the race 
whence he sprang and the dominating char- 
acteristics of that [jeople, as disclosed in him. 
have won him the confidence and regard of 
his fellow citizens in the land of his adoption. 
X. Jacob Smith, of Cherry Grove town- 
ship, was born in Sweden, Januarv- 21, 1842. 
His parents were agriculturists and the first 
fifteen years of his life were spent on a farm. 
In 1857 he crossed over into Denmark and 
resided there, following farming, until 1870. 
when he made a visit to the United States. 
He was so well pleased with all that he saw 
that he determined to make the great Ameri- 
can republic his future home. Accordingly 
he returned to Sweden and in the fall of 1871 
he was united in marriage to Miss Johanna 
Sophia Johnson, a native of Sweden. l)orn 
in September, 1844, and soon thereafter they 
came to the United States, coming direct to 
Livingston county, and thence to \\'exft)ril 
county, Michigan, where he invested in forty 
.-icres of woodlAnd, whicli he bought of tlie 
tlrand Rapids & Indiana Railroad Company. 
It is a part of section 23. Cherry Grove town- 
ship, antl cost him three hundred and sixty 
dollars, or nine dollars per acre. He im- 
mediately erected good, substantial build- 
ings and began clearing the land. Whenever 
he found an adjacent tract of land for sale 
at a reasonable figure he lost no time in 
purchasing it and in this way kept constantly 



WEXFORD COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



473 



adding to his real estate possessions, nntil 
at this time he is the owner of, two hunched 
and eighty acres, eighty of which are cleared 
and nnder cultivation. Eleven children 
have heen born to Mr. and Mrs. Smith, six 
of them died in childhood. Those living- 
are Edmund J., Frank O., Emma S. J., 
Charles N. and Nels A. 

In all pul)lic affairs, local, state and na- 
tional, like every well etlucated, patriotic 
citizen, Mr. Smith takes much interest. In 
educational work he is particularly active, 
for lie knows that enlightenment is a pre- 
requisite to good citizenship. He has served 
in nearly every capacity on the school board, 
as director, moderator and inspector. Good 
roads is another favorite local topic with him 
and he served for a. number of years as high- 
way commissioner, during which time the 
good work accomplished by him was cpiite 
perceptible to every person making use of 
the public highways of the township. 'J"he 
finances of the township also always re- 
ceive a good deal of consideration from him. 
lie was treasurer of the township a number 
of terms and guarded the public funds in a 
manner to secure the approval of every tax- 
I)ayer. The family belongs to the Swedish 
Mission church and are devout and zealous 
workers in the cause of religion and charity. 
He is rm enterprising, public-spirited man 
who has done his full share toward the 
growth and development of ihc townshi]) 
and countv of his residence. 



CHARLES C. DCNHAM. 

One of the leading figures in the history 
of Wexford county is Charles C. Dunham, 
wlio for nearlv thirtv vears has been a 



worthy resident of Cadillac, during which 
period he has achieved honorable distinction 
as a citizen, besides serving the public in 
an important official position, to say noth- 
ing of his connection with various enterprises 
lor the general welfare of the community. 
!n a war which tested -the stability of the 
American government he bra\ely and loy- 
ally defended the nation's honor and in var- 
ious avenues of civil life be has been charac- 
terized by fidelity of purpose and adherence 
to principle which bespeaks the trustworthy 
man and public-spirited citizen. 

Charles C. Dunham is a native of Ohio 
and was born November 17, 1843. '" ^^""^ 
town of Hinckley, Medina county, being the 
son of William and Jane Ann (Conant) 
Dunham, both natives of Pennsylvania. 
Until about eight years of age the subject 
lived at the place of bis birth, his experience 
during the interim being pretty much like 
that of the majority of children born and 
reared in a country town. About 1853 his 
father linxight the family to Michigan and 
located near Grand Rapids, in which city the 
elder Dunham worked for some years as a 
carpenter and joiner, which trade he 
learned before moving west. Being an ef- 
ficient mechanic, his services were in great 
demand and in addition to many other edi- 
lices he built a number of hotels between the 
cities of Grand Ra])ids and Kalamazoo, se\'- 
eral of which became noted places of enter- 
tainment during the earl\- days when people 
tra\-eled largely b_\' stage or i)rivate con\-ey- 
ance. Later William Dunham abandoned 
mechanical work and turned his attention to 
liusiness, accepting the position of cashier in 
a bank at Manistee, in winch institution he 
was also interested as stockholder. Subse- 
([ucntlv he was made president (if the bank 



474 



WEXFORD COUNTY. MICHIGAN. 



and as such gained an lionoraI)le re]nitation 
in financial circles, his connection with the 
hanking husincss at .Manistee co\ering a 
pcriocl (if t\vent\- \ears. during which time 
lie hecanie one of the leading men of that 
town. I'or a time he served as president of 
the Fifth National Bank of Clrand Rapids, 
which city he still makes his home and with 
the material growth and prosperity of which 
he has long heen identified, heing at this time 
one of its hest known and most praiseworthy 
citizens. By energy and successful manage- 
ment he accumulated a large fortune, hut 
owing to financial difficulties nuich of his 
wealth was lost, although he succeeded in 
saving suificient to spend the remainder of 
his days in comfort. In politics he has heen 
a zealous Repuhlican ever since the organi- 
zation of the i^arty, and while living at Man- 
istee he was elected to several county offices, 
in all of which he discharged his duties in 
a manner which met with the ap])roval of 
llic puhlic irrcsjjective of party ties. Mr. 
1 )unliam has long heen an enthusiastic 
Mason and of receiU x'ears has heen one of 
ihe most prominent memhers of the order 
in this state, having risen to the thirty-third 
degree, which, as all know, depends entirely' 
upon merit and is only reached hy a few. 
At the present time he is living a life of re- 
tirement, honored and'respected hy the peo- 
])le of Cirand Rapids and well known in fin- 
.ancial and Masonic circles througiiout the 
slate, his nrune exerywhere heing synony- 
mous with all that is upright in manhoud 
;ind commendahle in citizenship. 'The 
family of William and Jane Ann Dunh.im 
includes lixe children, whose names are as 
f.illows: llcnry. Jennie, I'hoehe, Julia and 
the suhiecl of this rexiew. who is second 
in order of hinh. 



As already stated, Charles C. Dunham 
was a lad of ahout eight years when his 
liarents mo\ed to Michigan and from that 
lime until eighteen his life was devoid of 
interesting e.xperiences or eventful episode. 
He attended the puhlic scliools of the various 
localities in which the family lived, made 
the most of his opportunities and grew up 
\-igorous in hody, strong and alert in mind 
and well qualified to assume the grave re- 
sponsibilities of life when they should pre- 
sent themselves. In 1S63 he responded to 
the country's call for volunteers by enlisting 
in Company L, Tenth Michigan Cavalry, 
with which he shared ihc fortunes and vicis- 
situdes of war until the close of the rebel- 
lion, serving in the Army of the Cumberland 
and participating in many noted battles antl 
campaigns as a brave and gallant soldier. In 
an engageiuent near Henry Court House, 
\'irginia. he fell into the hands of the enemy, 
Imt after being held a prisoner one day was 
released and rejoined his command, from 
which time until the end of his period of ser- 
vice he met with no other mishap or misfor- 
inne. Returning to Michigan at the close of 
the war, Mr. Dunham yielded to a desire of 
long standing by beginning the study of law. 
Init after prosecuting the same for a short 
time circumstances led him to engage in 
an undertaking which pronused him a 
more speedy means of obtaining a liveli- 
liood: accordingly he left \\'a_\land, where 
he had located after the war. and engaged as 
superintendent of a shingle mill at Winne- 
conne. Wisconsin, where he remained until 
his return to Michigan, in 1S70. In that 
year he emliarked in the lumber business at 
Manistee and there continued with fair suc- 
cess until 1876, when he came to Cadillac 
where he carried on the manufactiu'e of lum- 



WEXFORD COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



475 



1>cr during the ensuing two years, devoting 
a part of his time to clerking in a grocery 
house. 

y.\v. Dunham early Ijecamc interested in 
politics and shortly after his removal to 
(Cadillac began taking an active part in local 
affairs, his ability as an organizer and party 
leader soon bringing him prominently be- 
fore the public. In 1878 he was nominated 
on the Republican ticket for sheriff and his 
election to the oifice by a large majority 
demonstrated not ouly his fitness for the 
position but also his personal popularity with 
the people, men of all parties giving him a 
liberal support. His administration of the 
office was in every respect satisfactory and 
so ably and faithfully did he discharge his 
duties that he has been retained several 
terms, his course throughout fully justifying 
the wisdom of the people in keeping him 
continuously in ofiice. In 1S82 Mr. Dun- 
ham was admitted to the Ijar, but his official 
functions have required his time an_d atten- 
tion to tlie extent of practically preventmg 
him from engaging in the practice, his legal 
services being of an advisory nature and 
confined largely to maters outside of the 
courts. He is well grounded in the princi- 
ples of jurisprudence, has a wide acquain- 
tance with the law in all its bearings and 
possesses the ability and tact to apply his 
Icnowledge to practice. Should the people 
e\-er release their hokl upon his services he 
will doubtless yet achieve a creditable record 
at the l)ar. his mtegrity and sound judg- 
ment being c|ualifications largely in his favor 
when he sees ht to assume his proper jiiace 
among his professional brethren. 

Mr. Dunham, in the year icS'xj, was 
united in marriage to Miss iMuma i ). I'.utts, 



of Lawrence, Michigan, daughter of H. W. 
Butts, the union bemg blessed with a daugh- 
ter by the name of Ji\a. In social and fra- 
ternal circles Mr. Dunham has long been 
active and prominent, standing especially 
high as a Mason, in which order he has taken 
a number of degrees besides serving in var- 
ious honorable capacities. He has held of- 
ficial station in the commandery, and served 
as high priest of the chapter of Royal Arch 
Masons, discharging his duties in these im- 
portant relations with the same ability and 
fidelity that characterize his career in the 
ci\il office with which the people of W'e.x- 
ford county ha\e honored him. He is also 
identified v.ith the Knights of Pythias, be- 
longing to the Uniform Rank, and for a 
number of years his name has adorned the 
records of the Grand Army of the Republic 
and the Union Veterans' Union, which or- 
ganizations tend to keep in memory the 
thrilling scenes and experiences of his mili 
tary da_\s ami endea\-or and heighten the 
liatriotic sentiment which should animate 
e\ erv true soldier who tendered his ser\ices 
and his life to the country during the periled 
of treason and disunion. 

Mr. Dunham's career in ci\il as in mili- 
tary life has been most creditable and right 
faithfully has he earned and nobly does he 
merit the confidence in which he is held and 
I he honors that have lieen conferred upon 
him. ]5y all who know him he is considered 
a faithful anil eftlcient ofticer and an up- 
right, courteous gentleman and in the 
various relations of lit'e, \vhether as citizen, 
friend, neighbor, puiilic servant, husband or 
father, he is respected by a wide circle of 
acf|naintances, who regard him as an honor- 
able man, true to his convictions and ever 



476 



WEXFORD COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



readv by e\ery power at liis cuniinand to do 
ilie riglit as lie sees and undersliinds the 

right. 

♦-•-♦ 

FRANK L. (iOODVEAR. 

The science of agriculture, for it is a 
science as well as an art, finds an able demon- 
strator as well as a successful practitioner in 
the person of P^-ank L. (loodyear, the sub- 
ject of this review. A skilled engineer, both 
locomotive and stationary, he abandoned 
that remunerative calling to engage in the 
more peaceful, less hazardous and more 
agreeable pursuit of agriculture. 

Frank L. Goodyear, who owns and re- 
sides ui)on a part of section -'4. Selma 
township, is a native of Xew York, born 
in Camden, Oneida county, December 17, 
1S47. In 1853 the family moved to Oswego 
countv, Xew York, where, in January. 1864. 
the subject of this review enlisted in Com- 
pany II. Xinth Regiment Xew York Heavy 
.\rtillery, and .served until after the close of 
the war. He was mustered out of the ser- 
vice Sei)tember 29. 1865. and returned to 
his home in Oswego. He served his coun- 
trv faithfully and received a wound in the 
left arm. while in the line ot duty, at Monoc- 
nc}', ^Maryland, which for a length of time 
caused him considerable trouble. In the 
.'■pring of 1866 he decidetl to try his fortune 
in the west and accordingly he left Oswego 
countv and took up his abode in Clinton. 
Iowa. There he secured employment on the 
Chicago & Xorthwestern Railroad, became 
a skillful engineer and ran on that line in 
that capacity for a number of years. lie 
was also for a time, wlule he lived in Clinton. 
engineer nn a stcanibn.-it plving up and down 



the Mississippi river. He was not at all 
dissatisfied with his calling, but the dangers 
to which he was constantly exposed was 
a constant source of fear and an.Kiety to the 
family and eventually he was prevailed upon 
to give it up and enter a calling not so be- 
set with danger. In the fall of 1884 he pur- 
chased a team and wagon, installed his 
wife and two children in the canopy-topped 
vehicle, put in a few necessary articles and 
headed his horses for We.xford county. Mich- 
igan. In due season he arrived, purchased 
eighty acres of land in section 24, Selma 
township, and immediately proceeded to es- 
talilish a home thereon, having since con- 
tinued to reside there. About half of the 
tract of laud he has cleared and it is well cul- 
tivated and quite productive. He has erected 
commodious and substantial buildings there- 
on and the place and its surroundings present 
a most enticing, home-like appearance. 

On the 17th day of January, 1876, in 
Oneida county, Xew York, Frank L. Good- 
year was united in marriage to Miss Helena 
Da\is. a native of Xew York, born in Oneitla 
county. September 17, 1837. To this luiion 
three children were born, two of whom, 
Cora J. and Bessie C. are living. The other 
daughter. Leva, died early in life. Cora at- 
tended the normal college at Cadillac and 
for se\en years was a successful teacher in 
this county. December 25, 1902, she be- 
came the wife of Clarence Parker. 

Ever since his location in Selma town- 
ship Mr. Goodyear has been quite active in 
public affairs. He served as supervisor of 
Selma township from 1890 to 1901, a period 
of eleven vears. He has been highway com- 
missioner and was deputy sheriti" of Wexford 
Countv for a number of years. In his labors 
on tiic fnrm he has been most successful, and 



Vl^EXFORD COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



477 



lias ne\er lor a nionient ret;rettC(l that he 
chang-ed either his location or his calling-. He 
is a man of firm convictions, yet amialjle and 
kind, and in his home is all that could be de- 
sired in a husband and father. 



x\SAPH T. VANCE. 

There is no positive rule for achieving 
success, and yet in the life of the successful 
man there are always lessons which might 
well be followed. The man who gains pros- 
peritv is he who can see and utilize the op- 
portunity that comes in his path. The es- 
sential conditions of human life are ever the 
same, the surroundings of indi\-iiluals differ 
l)ut slightlv, and when one man passes an- 
other on the highway of life to reach the 
goal of prosperity before others who perhaps 
started out Ijefore him, it is because he has 
the power to use advantages which probably 
encompass the whole human race. Today 
among the prominent citizens and successful 
agriculturists of Clam Lake township, Wex- 
ford county. ^Michigan, stands .\saph T. 
\'ance. The qualities of keen discrimination, 
sound judgment and a keen sense of honor 
enter very largely into liis make-up and have 
l)een contributing elements to the material 
success \\hich has come to him. 

Asaph T. A'ance is a native of Canada, 
having been born in the county of Xnrfulk, 
jirovince of Ontario, on the iith of May, 
1846, the son of Alexander and Xaricy 
(Teal ) \'ance, natives also of Canada. The 
sub'ect was reared upon his father's farm and 
was carlv initiated into the mysteries of suc- 
cessful agriculture, in the meantime being 
given the l^enefit of a good education in I he 



Common schools, a grammar school and pri- 
vate instruction under Robert Miller, a class- 
ical scholar. He remained with his mother 
until in I'ebruary, i<S7J, when, desiring to 
start out on his own account, he came to 
Cadillac (then known as Clam Lake) and 
took up a homestead. During the first five 
or six vears he passed his winters teaching, 
and in the lumber woods, but at length was 
enabled to give his attention to his farm. He 
set about to improve the tract and had forty 
acres improved and in good cultivable condi- 
tion, when, in 1903, he traded his homestead 
for an eighty-acre tract in section 25, the 
same township. He has given careful at- 
tention to the cultivation of his land and 
raises all the crops that the climate and soil 
are at all capable i^f producing, and also pays 
some attention to the raising of such stock 
as is needed in the the conduct of the farm. 
His farm is well improved with a modem 
dwelling and his outbuildings are all of sub- 
stantial construction and conveniently ar- 
ranged, as well as sufficiently commodious 
for all practical purposes. Tli£ entire place 
shows the careful superintendence of a skill- 
ful manager, and there are very few farms 
of its size in the county with which it will 
not favorably compare. 

Mr. \'ance has twice been married, the 
first time, on the 1 ith day of May. 1875. to 
Miss Alma J. P.arker. a native of Hillsdale 
countv, Michigan. Her death occurred 
lulv 9. 1876, and on the 31b of November, 
1882, Mr. Vance was married to Miss Dor- 
cas C. Dimbar, a native of the state of New 
^ork and the ilaughter of Robert and Mary 
(Lake) Dunbar. When .she was yet in 
voung girlhood her ])arents removed from 
Xevv York to Hancock county. Ohio, where 
she w;is reared ami educated and live<l until 



478 



IV EX FORD COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



earlv in the "seventies, when she came to 
Wexford county, Michigan. To her union 
with Mr. Vance was born one child. Asaph 
J., who died when ten niontlis old. 

The political entinicnts of the subject are 
in harmony wilii the platform and principles 
of the Republican party and he has been ac- 
tive in the interests of his party. He stands 
high in the confidence of his fellow citizens 
antl for several years tilled the office of clerk 
of his township and also several years as 
township supervisor, performing the duties 
of both positions in a manner highly credit- 
able to himself and to the entire satisfaction 
of his constituents, in religion he subscribes 
to the creed of the Methodist Episcopal 
church. He aims to be progressive in what 
he does, is alwa\s in sympathy with enter- 
prises having for their object the common 
good, and his influence is e\er exerted on the 
right side of every moral issue. Like all 
men of positive character and independence 
of mind, he is outspoken in the defence of 
what he considers to be right, and his con- 
victions are such that his neighbors and fel- 
low citizens know well his positions on all 
questions of a political, moral and religious 
nature. His private life has been exemplary 
and his amiable traits of character and many 
virtues have made him widely p<:*pular 
throughout the township in which he re- 
sides. 

♦-.-♦ 

C11.\RLES II. DRURV. 

The popular citizen autl enterprising busi- 
r.ess man whose name furnishes the caption 
of this article needs no formal introduction 
to the people of Cadillac and Wexford coun- 
ty. iMir a number of years identified witli 
tlic couuncrcial interests and alwavs tak- 



ing an .active part in promoting the welfare 
of the puljlic. he has risen to a high place in 
business circles, besides earning the reputa- 
tion of one of the county's broad minded, 
progressive men of affairs. Charles H. 
Drury, president of the Kelley & Drury 
Hardware Company of Cadillac, is a native 
of Michigan, burn July iS. 1S48. in the city 
of Detroit. His father, Nathaniel Drury, 
was an artist and for many years followed 
scenic painting in \arious parts of the Cnited 
States, visiting many of the largest cities in 
the course of a singularly brilliant and suc- 
cessful professional career. He was a man 
of fine attainments and high social standing 
and excelled in the calling to which his life 
and energies were mainly devoted. He died 
souie vcars ago in the city of Xew Orleans, 
whither he had lieen called in the line of his 
work. 'I'lie maiden name of the subject's 
mother was Sarah A. Kress. She was born 
in Penn Van. New York, bore her husband 
two children, and departed this life in Ad- 
rian. Michigan, which place she was making 
her home at the time of her death. 

Charles II. Drury spent his early years in 
the city of Adrian and after receiving a good 
practical education in the public schools be- 
gan life for himself as a clerk in a hardware 
house, a line of business for which he dis- 
played unusual aptitude and in which his 
abilities as a salesman soon became manifest, 
broni iS6j until 1879 he followed clerking. 
princii)ally in the cit}' of Adrian, but in Au- 
gust of the latter year came to Cadillac and 
accepted a position in the hardware house of 
Cloud & Mi'chell, where he remained a few- 
months, resigning his place in the spring of 
1 880 for the purpose of engaging in the same 
line of trade for himself in ]iartncrship with 
! rank C. Simipsun. 



WEXFORD COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



479 



Messrs. Sampson & Drury soon becjime 
llie leading' hardware dealers in Cadillac and 
the fir)n as originall)' constituted lasted 
aljont ten years, at the expiration of whicli 
time A. W. Xewark purchased Mr. Samp- 
son's interest an<l l)ecame the subject's busi- 
ness associate under the style of Xewark & 
Drury. Under this joint management the 
business continued during the ensuing fi\'e 
_vears. when Mr. Newark sold out to V. B. 
Kelley, thus forming the Drury & Kelley 
Hardware Company, and as such it has since 
existed. It is not only the largest and most 
successful hardware firm in Cadillac, but 
one of the most enterprising partnerships of 
the kind in the northern part of the state. 
The company commands an extensive local 
;md general trade and is widely known in 
commercial circles, enjoying exceptional 
standing with the leading business agencies 
of the country, and the remarkable ailvance- 
ment made since its organization may be 
taken as an earnest of a still larger and more 
prosperous career in the future. 

]\Ir. Drury is easily one of the leading 
men of Cadillac and as such occupies a con- 
spicuous place in the estimation of his fel- 
low citizens. He takes a lively interest in 
whate\er tends to advance the material 
growth of the city, supports with a liberal 
hand all worthy enterprises having for their 
cjbject the social and moral welfare of the 
community and his influence has ever been 
e.xerted on the right side of all local issues. 
His career has been one of continued activity, 
attended in the main by remarkaljle busi- 
ness advancements and financial prosperity. 
He is essentially progressive in all he under- 
takes and, endowed with the ability and tact 
to mould circumstances tn suit his pin'posos. 
his success in rising superior to ad\erse con- 



ditions and mounting to his present liigh and 
honorable position in the world of affairs 
indicates a power such as few possess. 

The domestic chapter in the history of 
Air. Drury has been one of almost ideal char- 
acter, but it is not for the writer to lift the 
\eil from the sacred precincts where much 
of his inspiration, courage and confidence 
ha\-e been born and in which the grace and 
dignity of noble womanhood, the devotion 
of motherhood and the charm of childhood 
shine with such peculiar luster. Sufifice to 
say, however, that on the 24th day of Jan- 
uary. 1 87 1, he was united in marriage with 
Miss Alice C. Webster, the accomplished 
daughter of Orange Webster, of Cadillac, a 
union resulting in the birth of three children, 
the oldest of wIidui, Margaret, is now the 
wife of Charles Ciibson, the other two, Ed- 
win C. and Franklin, still being mem- 
bers of the pleasant home circle. Mrs. 
Drury is a lady of refinement and gracious 
presence, taking an acti\e interest in the 
social, church and benevolent life of her 
home town and holding the appreciative re- 
gard of all who come within her kindly and 
helpful influence. 

In addition to his large and constantly 
growing business affairs. Mr. Drury has 
long been a factor in the public concerns of 
Cadillac, ha\ing ser\ed acceptably as 
treasurer of the city, besides doing much in 
other than ofiicial capacities to promote its 
material progress. He is also conne*:ted 
with the People's Saving Bank, of which be 
is now vice-president, and he is now presi- 
dent of the Cadillac Can Manufacturing 
Company, a large business enterprise with 
which he is identified and for the success 
of which he has put forth such strenuous 
and failhful efforts, b'raternallv he is a 



•480 



irEXfORD COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



member nt the Knights of Pytliias and the 
]3ene\'tilent and Pr(jtecti\e Order uf l-llks. 
and religiously belongs with his wife In the 
Methodist F^piscopal cliurch. 

The foregoing rc\ie\v nf the life of nne 
I if Cadillac's enter])rising business men and 
l)roniinent citizens is necessarily general in 
character and scope. To enter fully into all 
the interesting details of his career, touching 
the struggles of liis youth and young man- 
liood and the success of later days, would 
require an article far in excess of the limits 
of this review. Enough has been submitted, 
however, to prove that he is entitled to a first 
place in the ranks of the determined, ener- 
getic, self-made men of Michigan, whose 
enterprise and unswer\ing honor have 
wrought from the wilderness a state second 
to none in the grand constellation compris- 
ing our proud national union, and to show 
that he fully merits the high esteem in which 
he is held by the people among whom his 
lot has been cast. 



MRS. CYNTHIA (WHITMORE) 
DAYHUFE. 

Thirty-five years ago what is now the 
cc lunty of We.xford was a wilderness. There 
were a few settlements, where people, will- 
ing to undergo the privations of pioneer 
life in the hope of a brighter future, came 
and axailed themselves of the privileges of 
the homestead laws, settled on land and 
awaited the advance of civilization. At 
that time the poi)ulation of the county con- 
sisted wholly of hard-working people. Con- 
ditions were then entirely too priniiti\-e for 
the event of professional men. Occasion- 



ally a minister of the gospel might be en- 
countered, but he was one of those pious 
laborers who employed six da_\s out of each 
week doing manual labor on the farm, ir. 
the woods or in a saw-mill and sjient Sundav 
])reaching saKation to those who cared to 
come to listen to him. As to lawyers, there 
were no (juestions for litigation and gener- 
cdly when the services of a doctor were re- 
([uired, through sickness or accident, he had 
to be called in from another county. These 
were the conditions i)revailing in this lo- 
cality when Mrs. Cynthia (W'hitmore) Day- 
huff, with her family, located in what is now 
Colfax township. At that time she was a 
woman forty-seven years of age. the mother 
of six children and with an abundance of 
experience in ministering to the sick and 
aftlicted. She possessed a fair education, 
had read much, particularly standard medi- 
cal authorities, and l)eing blessed by nature 
with excellent judgment and a fund of rare 
common sense, the people in the vicinity of 
her home soon found her services far more 
valuable to the sick and suffering of the lo- 
cality than the doctors whom they could in- 
duce to come in and prescribe for them. In 
this way she began the practice of medicine 
;'.nd devoted much of her time for many 
years to the profession, often being called 
from a distance of fifteen miles or more to 
attend a patient and almost invariably, when 
the call was not urgent or the distance 
great, making the journey on foot. In this 
way "Grandma Dayhuff," as she is popularly 
known, has been an angel of mcrc\' to many 
a ])oor sufferer. 

Cynthia (Whitmore) Da\huff' is a native 
of the state of Xew ^drk. born at Shelby, 
(lenesce ci^iunly. l)eceniber 15. ]Sji. and is 
consequentl}- now ( 1903) in the eighty- 



WEXFORD COUNTY, AIICHIGAN. 



481 



second year of her age. Her parents were 
Obediah and Betsey (Van Riper) Wliitmore. 
also natives of the Empire state. In 1827. 
wlien tlie subject was six years old. the fam- 
ily ni(i\'ed to Cliautau(|ua county. Xew 
^'ork. where the_\' lived for four xears and 
then migrated to Ohio, locating in Sandus- 
k-y county, where Mrs. Dayhuff grew to 
wonruihood. She attended scJiool in her 
nati\e state and in Ohio and, being intellec- 
tual and naturally studious, readily learned 
all the lessons that were set before lier. 
Mentally and educationally she was. on 
reaching maturity, more advanced than the 
average girls of the times and the places 
wherever she li\-ed. In St. Joseph county. 
Indiana, she was united in marriage to Enos 
C Dayhuff and in that county thev settled 
ruid there made their home for a numljer of 
years. Six children were born to them, viz : 
.\mos, Nathan, James, Mary E., Jennie and 
Milton. Jennie is now the wife of l^lijah 
Smith, at whose home the subject resides. 
In another part of this volume will be found 
a brief biography of Air. Smith. 

In 1864 the family moved to Michigan, 
locating in Grand Rapids, where they re- 
mained for three years. In Xox'ember. 
1867, Mr. Dayhuff and family came to what 
is now Wexford county; satisfied himself as 
to the possibilities of the place and bought 
and lr>cated upon a tract of land which is 
now a part of Colfax township. Plere a 
modest home was erected, the land cleared 
and a productive farm took place of the 
forest. From here the six children went out 
into the world in quest of their own for- 
!unes and there the parents continued to re- 
side until the autumn of i8(/). when, \earn- 
ing for a less rigorous climate than northern 
Michigan, thev mo\'ed to Tennessee. Their 



enjoyment of the balmy breezes of the 
sunny south, hdwexer, was of short duration. 
September 2(). 1901, Enos C. Dayhuff 
Ijreathed his last, at tlie venerable age of 
eightv vears. His aged and disconsolate 
widow soon thereafter returned to her 'ild 
home in Michigan, where she was heartily 
welcomed by her daughter and son-in-law, 
Mr. and Mrs. Elijah Smith. 

Always relig'iouslj' inclined, from the 
time that she was hfteen years of age, Mrs. 
Dayhuff has been a member of the Metho- 
dist Episcopal church. In her younger and 
more acti\e years she was zealous in every 
species i_)f church work, particularly in that 
part of it whicl; is included in deeds of 
charit\'. When engaged in ministering to 
tlie sick, the suffering and the dying she was 
actuatetl more by a lo\-e for humanity than 
bv any hope of nnterial reward. Few li\-es 
lia\e been simpler, purer or better than hers 
has been, and now, standing on the outer 
\-erge of time and w ith a confidence not born 
of earth, awaiting the glorious dawn of 
eternity, she has no reason wdiatever to doubt 
that the greeting of the blaster will be other 
than "Well done, good and faithful ser- 
\aiit. possess the kingdom prepared for you." 



TAYLOR W. GRAY. 

Those men who have devoted their li\-es 
to the development and extension of the 
agricultural interests of northern Michigan 
are deserving more than jiraise at the hands 
of the ])resent generaticm and an indebted- 
ness still heavier is due them from coming 
generations. It is their labors that have light- 
ened the burdens of the present rural resi- 



482 



IV EX FORD COUNTY. MICHIGAN. 



(lent and made a garden spot instead of a 
wilderness for posterity. The subject of this 
review, Taylor W. Gray, is one of those 
w^hose good work as a woodman and agri- 
culturist accomplished so much for the sec- 
tion of Michigan in which he resides and 
where he has resided for many years. He 
is a resident of Liberty township, his farm 
being a part of section 28. 

Taylor W. Gray was born on his father's 
iarm in Mi)rgan cnunty. Indiana. January 
(). 1839. His parents were David W. and 
Elizabeth (McCampbell) Gray, butJi now 
dead. She died at the family residence at 
the age of fifty years, while her husband 
died many years later, at the age of seventy- 
four years. They were the parents of thir- 
teen children, of win mi the subject of this 
review was the third. 1 le was reared in 
Indiana and engaged in agricuUural \nn- 
.«uits until August. i8Ci, when he became 
a soldier in the United States army, enlisting 
in Company A, Thirty-third Indiana Vol- 
unteer Infantr)^ and served to the close of 
the war. His regiment was a ])art of the 
Army of the Cumberland and he participated 
in a number of the hottest battles of the war. 
among them that of Kenesaw Mountain, 
Georgia. June 19 to 25. 1864, and Peach 
Tree Creek, Georgia. July 19 and 20, 1864. 
At Springfield. Tennessee. November 26th 
and ,30th. with his regiment, he was captured 
by the Confederates and incarcerated in 
Libby prison, where they languished for 
about two months, or until they were ex- 
changed. The regiment was in the thick 
of the fight in most of the engagements 
from Chattanooga to Atlanta, and was with 
Sherman on that memorable march lluough 
Georgia to the. sea. ?^Ir. (hay was mus- 
tered out at the close of the war, in iSG^. and 



returning to Morgan county, Indiana, he 
again engaged in farming, which has been 
his business since. In the fall of 1870 he 
came to Michigan and after taking a look 
over some portions of Wexford county, de- 
cided to locate there. He took up a home- 
stead of one hundred and sixty acres of 
land in section 28. Liberty township. Re- 
turning to Indiana he spent the winter there 
and in the si)ring of 1871 mo\ed to the 
homestea<l he had entere<l. 

Mr. (iray was twice married. On the 
!ntb day of April, 1854, in Owen county. 
Indiana, he was tuiited in marriage to Miss 
Rmerilla Xichols. a native of that county, 
born about 1848. They were the parents 
of three children, only one of whom. 
.Savannah, is now living. She is the wife of 
bran]-: Moore. Emer_\ grew to luanhooti 
and still resided at home, when he was 
stricken with illness and ilied at the age of 
twent_\--one ye.ars. Mary was the wife of 
Sheridan (i. Long, and they bad not been 
long married when she dietl. at the early 
age of twenty years. Mrs. (iray had pre- 
ceded her children into eternit\' several 
\ears. expiring at the family home in Lil/- 
erty township in April. 187.3. In March. 
1874, after being a widower for one vear. 
Mr. (iray was again married, his bride 
on this occasion Ijeing Mrs. Jane ^'eo- 
mans. widow of \\'illiam Yeomans. She is 
a daughter of Mr. ,-uid Mrs. Aaron Bassett. 
of Allegan county. Michigan, and is ;i 
natixe of New York, where she was born in 
1X43. To this union six children were born, 
viz: Robert J.. David W".. l''.stella. Alice. 
Nettie and Henry M. Alice is the wife of 
J;mies Robinett. 

()f the original one hundred rmd sixty 
acres upon which the subject located, he 




ELWOOD PECK. 



WEXFORD COUNTY, MICfUGAN. 



483 



still retains ninety-one acres, fifty-eight of 
which are cleared, well cultivated and 
splendidly improved. The kind of farming- 
that is best adapted to the conditidns which 
prevail in UDrthern Michigan makes it im- 
possible for a farmer withnut large capital 
or much help to cultivate large tracts. .V 
well culti\ated small farm there is much 
more profitable than a large one wdiich can- 
not receive ]iroper care. It was this fact 
that influenced Air. Gray in disposing of 
si.xty-nine of the broad acres of his original 
homestead. 

The subject has been honored by tiie peo- 
l)le oi his township with \arious local po- 
sitions, such as supervisor, treasurer and 
meml)er of the school board. Ever since 
bis residence in the county he has been \er)' 
much interested in e\ery local public enter- 
prise and in everything that i)ertains to the 
townsliip's welfare. While a Repubhcan, he 
has no ambition to become a politician and 
has no desire for political preferment. He 
is interested in religion and church work, 
both he and his wife being members of the 
Christian church, the members of which are 
known as the Disciples of Christ. His life 
lias been a very Inisy and useful one and be- 
cause of his genial disposition, courtous man- 
ner and genuine worth he has won for him- 
self a host of warm personal friends. 



ELWOOD PECK. 

On the roster of W'e.xford county's able 
lawyers is found tlie name of the late El wood 
Peck, who, though a young man at the time 
of his lamented death, had already reached 
a commanding place at the Cadillac bar, be- 



sides gaining distinctive prestige in legal 
circles througiiout the northern part of the 
state. Called away at the zenith of bis use- 
fulness and in the ripeness of his mental 
vnd professional powers, he so impressed his 
individuality upon the cit}- of his adoption 
as to l)ecome not only an influential factor in 
its legal affairs, where his genius shone pre- 
eminent, but in all measures and enterprises 
making for the community's material, social 
antl moral advancement his position w as that 
of a leader whose wisdom and ability pa\ed 
the way for others to follow. 

The third child and second son of Alvah 
and Julia ( Cronk ) Peck, Ehvood Peck was 
born July 2, 1865, in Cohocton, Steuben 
county, Xew York, and there spent the first 
seventeen years of his life, receiving mean- 
while a fair mental discipline in the public 
schools. In the spring of 1882 he moved 
with his parents to Wexford county, Michi- 
gan, and during the ensuing three or four 
years assisted his father in developing the 
farm, bearing his full share of the labor at- 
tending such experiences and with strong' 
and willing hands contributing to the suijjjort 
of the family. 

Possessing a studious nature and feeling 
the need of a more thorough training than 
the common schools could impart, he soon 
entered the West Michigan College at 
Grand Rapids, where he prosecuted his stud- 
ies until completing the prescribed course, 
being graduated from that institution in the 
year 1891. Actuated by a laudable ambi- 
tion to tit himself for a career of usefulness, 
and selecting law as the profession best suit- 
ed to his tastes and inclinations, young- Peck, 
in the spring of 1884, came to Cadillac and 
entered the office of E. E. Haskins, under 
whose direction he pursued his legal studies 



484 



IVEXFORD COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



until liis admission to the bar. the year fol- 
lowing. Meantime, at the age of twenty- 
three, lie had been elected justice of the peace 
for Hanover township, which office he held 
two vears, being chosen after moving to the 
county seat. He was made town treasurer 
bv the votes of the i)eople. a pusilinn he 
filled with credit Ui himself and to the satis- 
faction of the public for a few years. Mr. 
Peck soon forged to the front as an able 
and judicious lawyer and won a lucrative 
practice in addition to his official duties, his 
name appearing in connection with much im- 
portant litigation from the date of his ad- 
mission to the bar until his death. Some 
conception of his popularity with the public 
and of the confidence the people reposed in 
him may be inferred from the fact of his al- 
most continuous retention in important offi- 
cial positions during the period of his resi- 
dence in Cadillac. In 1894 he was appointed 
dei^uty county treasurer, which jjosition he 
held Ijy successive reappointments until 
i8g6, when he was elected circuit court conv 
missioner. He discharged the duties of the 
latter office tmtil kjoo. ha\ ing been re-elected 
in 1898, and in additinn thereto also served 
as deputy register of deeds, proving under 
all circumstances a most capable and judi- 
cious i)ublic servant. In conducting the du- 
ties of the severa.l posts with which the i)eo- 
ple honored him he made himself very pop- 
ular by his reliability and gentlemanly de- 
meanor to all having dealings of an official 
character, and it is universally conceded that 
his different administrations were among 
the ablest, most straightforward and busi- 
ness-like in the history of the city and 
county. 

Mr. Peck was a Mason of high degree 
and a leading spirit of Sherman Lodge at 



Cadillac, which he served in the highest of- 
ficial capacities within the power of the meiu- 
ber? to bestow. He was also an active worker, 
in the Royal Arch degree, the Royal and Se- 
lect Masters and the Order of the Eastern 
Star, besides being prominently identified 
with the Knights of the Maccabees and other 
organizations of a fraternal and benevolent 
character, in all of which his inlluence was 
potent and his efi'orts effective. Socially his 
relations with the people of Cadillac were 
most pleasant and agreeable and e\-ery en- 
terprise making for the city's good, materi- 
ally or along other lines, enlisted his earnest 
endeavors and hearty co-operation. Mr. 
Peck had ])rofound convictions in the matter 
of religion, his early training and subse- 
quent study and investigation leading him to 
accept Christianity as the one faith most con- 
duci\e to man's happiness here and in 
the world to come. Subscribing to the Con- 
gregational creed, he early became an active 
worker in the church and in the spring of 
1895 he was elected clerk of the congrega- 
tion at Cadillac, a position he worthly held 
imtil called from the church militant to the 
church triumphant. 

Mr. Peck, as indicated, possessed natural 
abilities of a high order, w hich. strengthened 
and disciplined by continuous study, made 
him an infiuential factor in the business and 
social world. He had a .strong legal mind, 
easily comprehended the most complex and 
obstruse jjrinciples of the law and. possess- 
ing the ability to apply the same in practice, 
would no doubt have risen to high honor and 
distinction in his profession had not death 
so untimely terminated his bright and prom- 
ising career. .Among his friends he was the 
personification of good fellowship and in 
whatever circle he moved his easy dignity. 



WEXFORD COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



485 



genial disposition and cordial manner 
marked him at once as the courteous and re- 
fined gentleman. Every trust reposed in him 
was faithfully guarded and religiously tlis- 
charged, his duties, professional, official and 
social, were most carefully observed and 
made co-ordinate to every other considera- 
tion and he always did the right as he saw 
and understdod the right and endeavored to 
realize within himself his highest and noblest 
i<leals of manhood. 

Mr. Peck died on the 19th day of De- 
cember. 1 90 1. Ijeing in the prime of manhood 
and in the maturity of his powers when he 
passed away. In his death his family 
suffered the loss of a dutiful son and brother, 
the city and county one of their most effi- 
cient and popular public servants, the legal 
profession one of its ablest and most prom- 
ising members, and the state a rq^resentative 
citizen who honored and adorned every sta- 
tion to \\ hich he had been called. Human 
life is like the waves of the ocean that flash 
for a few brief moments in the sunlight, 
marvels of power and l)eauty and then, 
dashed upon the remorseless shore of death, 
they are broken and disappear forever. As 
the .sea has rolled for unnumbered ages in 
the past and will continued to roll and chant 
its sublime dirge for ages to com>e. so will 
the waxes of human life follow each other 
in countless succession to the one common 
goal until time shall be no more. 



RICH.\RD W. MASSEY. 

During the progress of the Ci\il war. 
1861-65. it is well known that English 
sympathy was almost entirely with the 
i.'onfederacy. Different historians seek to 
account for this in various wa\s, but all 



of them. e\en those of English origin, ad- 
mit the fact, while seeking to give excuses for 
it. The people of English origin residing 
in .\merica at that time. howe\'er. were not 
controlled in their sympathies In- the views 
entertained by their countrymen across the 
water. Thousands of them not on!)- ad\o- 
cated the cause of the Union, but entered 
the service as soldiers and sailors ;ind 
served their adopted country with distinc- 
tion until the close of the war. W'bi'e the 
subject of this review, Richard W. Massey. 
is a native-born American, his parents are 
lioth natives of England, and his father was 
one of those Englishmen who heartily en- 
dorsed the position taken by the North in 
that most sanguinary civil conflict. Indeed, 
he did not confine his endorsement to words, 
but jjroved his loyalty by deeds, as a i)rivate 
soklier, i:)n many of the battle fields of the 
south. He was a member of Company C, 
liiglith Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry. 

Richard W. Massey is a native of Wis- 
consin, born at Kenosha. Novemljer 14. 
1 85 1. His parents were John and Emma 
( Hamer) Massey. both natives of England, 
who immigrated to America soon after their 
marriage and located at Kenosha. Wisconsin, 
where John Massey followed slii]) building 
\-ery profitai)ly until the Ijreakiiig out of the 
C\\\\ war, when he enlisted in the [vighth 
Wisconsin Regiment, and served until 
peace was declared. He was a lover of the 
country of his adoption and true and loval 
to her cause. He died in Racine. \\ iscon- 
sin. some time after his return from the 
army, at the age of forty-seven years, his 
good wife having died three years before in 
the same city, when she was forty years old. 
Tliey were the parents of eight children, 
four sons and four daughters, of whom 



486 



WEXFORD COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



Richard W.. the subject of this article, was 
the seventh in onler of birth. 

Tlie first years of the hfe of the sub- 
ject were spent in Kenoslia, where he was 
1)orn. and in Racine, to which place the fam- 
ily moxed while the subject was still quite 
young. He attended sclmol a few years. 
Init, like most boys who are reared near 
large bodies of water, he yearned for ad- 
venture upon the great lakes. When he was 
ele\en years old he secured a position on one 
of the vessels plying between Racine and 
other points in the lake region and for the 
n.ext eight years he saw more of the water 
than he did of the land. Wearying of the 
monotony of life on ships, he longed for a 
little more intimate relation with green 
\\oods, verdant pastures and fields of wav- 
ing grain. Returning to land, he secured 
a place in a barber shop, became skilled in 
the trade and followed it much of the time 
for eighteen years, principally in Chicago. 
Manistee and Cadillac. In the fall of 1876 
he came to Cadillac, was employed as a 
barber and for the next eleven years fol- 
lowed that vocation. 

On the 3d day of July. 1877, in Cadillac, 
Wexford county, Richard W. !\Iassey was 
united in marriage to Miss Emma Cobbs, a 
native of Indiana, born in Butlerville, Jen- 
nings county. May 3, 1859. Her parents 
were Jonathan W. and Xancy J. (Preble) 
Cobbs. He a native of Ohio, born in Col- 
umbiaria county. July 25. 1828, while she 
\\as born in Ripley county. Indiana, ^larch 
21, 1833. ^ ''*^ father was a skilled me- 
chanic, a cabinet-maker, carpenter and 
wagon-maker. l)ut devoted the greater por- 
tion of his life to the manufacture of lum- 
ber, in which he amassed a comfortable for- 
tune. Tlie familv moved from Indiana to 



Michigan in 1874, and he was one of the 
first persons to engage in the manufacture 
of lumber in Cadillac. He died in 1898. 
and a sketch oi his interesting career will be 
found in another part of this volume. Mrs. 
Cobbs is still living, a genial, matronly lady, 
who has yet many years of usefulness be- 
fore her. Mrs. Richard W. Massey is a 
lady of taste, refinement and many accom- 
plishments. To her and her husband four 
children have been born, viz. : Wynter, 
.\fabel, Dick and a little daughter who died 
in infancy. 

In the fall of 1876 Richard W. Massey 
came to the city of Cadillac, and engaged 
in his chosen vocation , that of a liarber. 
This he followed for eleven years, when he 
(opened up a wholesale and retail tobacco 
store. In this l)usiness he was (|uite suc- 
cessful and followed it for six years. He 
then retired from active business and, being 
f|uite comfortably situated financially, has 
not considered it necessary to pursue any 
particular business or calling since. 

Having the time and means to devote to 
the social side of life, Mr. ^lassey is inter- 
ested in many fraternal societies. He is a 
member of Cadillac Lodge No. 331. Free & 
Accepted Masons, Cadillac Chapter \o. 103. 
Traverse City Commandery Xo. 41, and De- 
Witt Clinton Consistory at Grand Rapids. 
He is also a meiuber of the Knights o? 
Tytliias. with a membership in the local lodge 
at Cadillac, and is also a member of Cadillac 
Lodge Xo. 680. Benevolent and Protective 
Order of Elks. The Massey residence is a 
beautiful, commodious structure, delight- 
fully situated and furnished in palatial style. 
Its occupants are generous, hos])itable peo- 
ple who merit and receive the highest re- 
gard of their fellow citizens. 




MRS. H. I. DEVOE. 




H. I DEVOE. 



f 



1 



WEXFORD COUNTY. MICHIGAN. 



487 



XELS XIlILSOX. 

Nels Neilsoii, who has Ijcen engaged in 
kimbering and farming during tl:e greater 
part of his residence in Wexford county — 
covering thirty-one years — was born in 
Sweden, liis natal day being December 17, 
[IS52. His education was there acquircil 
and he continued to make iiis home in 
Sweden until eighteen years of age, when, 
being an ambitious young man, he resohed 
to try his fortune in a land of broader op- 
portvuiities, where efifort is unhampered by 
caste of class. Accordingly he sailed for 
the United States, and in 1872, when twenty 
years of age, he came to Wexford county, 
Michigan, wdiere he has since made his home. 
lie first entered the employ of the Grand 
Rapids & Indiana Railroad Compan}-, con- 
tinuing in that service for two years, on the 
expiration of which period he sought other 
employment and has since ])cen engaged in 
farming an<l in working in the lumber re- 
gions. It has been in theis way that he has 
gained a comfortable living and a good 
property. He is now the owner of eighty 
acres of kunl, of which about thirty acres 
has been placed under the plow, its cultivation 
representing much hard labor and \et bring- 
ing to him good returns in aljundant crops. 
He has also erected good buddings upon his 
farm, which is situated on section 14, Cedar 
Creek townshi]). His is a pleasant home 
and all the imiiroxemcnts upon the farm are 
the result of the energy an<l effort of the 
owner. 

In Manton, Michigan, June 27, 1S96, 
Air. Xeilson was marrieil, the lady of his 
choice being Miss Julia C. Jorgenson, a na- 
tive of Denmark, born May 11, 1876, and 
thcv Udw h;i\e one son, Ludwig H. Mr. 



Xeilson has ne\er been afraid of work and 
realizes tliat it is the foundation of all suc- 
cess and l)y reason of this he has become 
the possessor of one of the good farms of 
Cedar Creek township. 



HEXRY I. DEVOE. 

Atore than a century ago George Wash- 
ington said "Agriculture is the most useful 
as well as the most honorable pursuit of 
man," and this truth stands today as it did 
then. Farming forms the basis of all pros- 
perity and no land has had continuous or 
substantial de\elopment that could not base 
its growth upon agricultural pursuits. Mr. 
DeVoe is a representati\e of the farming 
interests of Wexford county and his home 
is now on section 34, Wexford township. 
He was born in Albany countv, X^ew York, 
on the I ith of Ma_\', 1837, and when a youth 
he was taken b}' his parents to Pennsylvania, 
the family settling upon a farm in Crawford 
comity, that state. There the subject re- 
mained until he was eleven j'ears of age, 
when he came with his parents to Michigan, 
the family home being established upon a 
farm in Wright township, Hillsdale county, 
where the subject remained until 1867. In 
his youth he worked in the fields and meail- 
ows, early becoming familiar with the best 
methods of producing good crops and carry- 
ing on the other work of the farm. His work 
in the fields, however, was interrupted by his 
service in the Union army, for his patriotic 
spirit was aroused by the continued attempt 
of the South to overthrow the Union and in 
October, 1862, he offered his services to the 
government, becoming a member of Com- 



WEXFORD COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



pany G, First Michigan Kegiment Engineers 
and Mechanics, witii wliich lie served for 
three years, or until Octol^er, 1865. He 
rendered his nation valual)le aid and was al- 
was loyal to the old flag and the cause 
it represented. When the war was over and 
he recei\ed an honorable discharge Mr. De- 
Voe returned lo Millsdale county, where he 
engaged in farming until 1867. 

The month of May of that \-ear witnessed 
the subject's arrival in Wexford county. 
Here he settled upon a farm which is yet his 
home. Securing a claim of one hundred and 
sixty acres of land, with characteristic energy 
he began its cultivation and he is now the 
owner of two hundred acres, of which fifty 
acres is improved. His is an industrious 
life and his well-directed energy is bringing 
to him creditalile and gratifying success. 
When he came to We.xford county he was 
accom])anicd 1)_\- his young wife. ha\ing been 
married in Hillsdale county, Michigan. On 
Christmas day of 1866 he married I\Iiss 
Helen M. Miner, a native of Branch county, 
Michigan, and their union has been blessed 
with two children, but Edgar died when only 
a year and a half old. The other son is Isaac 
AI. He received a common-school education 
.'md was the first graduate of the Sherman 
public school in 1898, afterward taking a 
course in the normal college at Mt. Pleasant. 
>Jichigan. He wedded Miss ]\Iae Snyder, 
who was born near Ml. Pleasant, and he 
now occupies the cli;iir of science in the 
CharIe\oix schools. Thev also had an 
adopted daughter, Carrie De\'oe. who was 
reared Ijy them frnm infancv and wln) is now 
the wife of W. M. Tracy. In 1882 Mr. 
DeVoe was called ii])on to mourn the loss of 
his wife, who died in Wexfi>rd tnwnship on 
the 2d of .Xnril of that \ear. 



Called to public office by his fellow- 
townsmen, ilr. De\'oe has served as super- 
visor, as township clerk, and as justice oi 
the peace and for twelve years he was county 
superintenilent of the poor. He was also 
elected county surveyor and held that po- 
sition for one term and he has been deputy 
county sur\eyor during the greater part of 
his residence here. Xo trust of a public na- 
ture that has l)een reposed in hiiu has e\er 
been betrayed in the slightest degree and at 
all times he is reliable, fully meeting his 
obligations. He has taken an active part in 
church work, has held membership with the 
Congregational denomination since 1871 and 
his wife was also a member of the Congre- 
gational church of Sherman and they con- 
tributed liberally to its support and did every- 
thing in their power for its growth and up- 
building. Thus it will be seen that the sub- 
ject has been an active factor in the material 
and moral development of his community 
and his labors have been so directed by 
sound judgment that they have proven of 
much benefit tt) his adopted county. He is a 
man whom to know is to respect and honor 
and during his residence in this section of 
the state he has yained manv warm friends. 



.Md'.l'.RT P.. SOL'THWICK. 

.\lbert 1*>. Southwick, who resides on 
section 2j. Wexford township, was btjrn in 
t"cnter\ille, St. Joseph county, Michigan, on 
tlic j;oth of September, 1848, his parents 
being Elijah B. and Harriet (Brown) 
Southwick. In the spring of 1884 the 
father renioxed with his family from Kala- 
m.azoii counlv. .Michig.in, to Wexford conn- 



WEXFORD COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



489 



ly anil settled in Wexford iuwnship. where 
he and his wife spent their remaining days. 
her death occurrint>- when she was ahout 
sixty-eight years of age, hut the father sur- 
vived until he reached the age of eighty- 
two years. L'nto them were born six chil- 
dren, of whom Albert B. is the eldest. 

In the county of his nativity and in 
jvalamazoo county, Michigan, Mr. South- 
wick of this review spent his boyhood days 
and at the time of his parents" removal to 
Wexfgrd county he also settled in this por- 
tion of the state upon the farm which has 
since been his home. He has since erected 
good buildings here for he is a progressive 
agriculturist, and his labors have kept 
abreast with the improvements of the times 
that has niarke<.l the pursuit of agriculture 
as well as all other lines of business life. He 
has placed a part of his land under a high 
state of cultivation, hax'ing fifty-ri\e acres 
unproved. His farm comprises altogether 
one hundred and thirty-five acres and from 
time to time he extends the boundaries of 
tlie cultivated tract. He raises the cereals 
best adapted to the soil and climate and he 
also has good grades of stock upon his 
place. 

Mr. Southwick has lieen twice married. 
In Leonidas townshi]), St. Joseph county. 
Michigan, he wedded Miss l\;ichel Addi- 
son, a native of Indiana, and unto them were 
born two children, who died in early \duth. 
The mother also passed aw.iy in Alcndon. St. 
Joseph county, when about twenty-five years 
of age. On the 3d of Octoljer. 1877, Mr. 
Southwick was again married, his second 
uiu'on being with Miss Mary Frederick, a 
daughter of John B. and Helen L. (Seas) 
Frederick, who cruiie to Wexford county in 
the spring of iSc^S. Here the father died 



i'cl.ruary 19. 1901. Mrs. Southwick is the 
eldest <.)f his family of eleven children and 
was born in Wayne county, Ohio, on the 
30th of June. 1855. f'}' '1^'' marriage she 
has become the mother of three living chil- 
dren. Mercy A.. Lydia E. antl Ida A., and 
they also lost one daughter, who died in in- 
fancy. 

IMr. Southwick has served as supervisor 
of Wexford township, has also been town- 
ship treasurer, justice of the peace, high- 
way commisioner anil school inspector. 
j'Ml this indicates that he has the confidence 
and good will of his fellow townsmen, who 
recognize his capability for office and there- 
fore honor him with positions of public trust. 
Ide has. indeed, been active in township 
affairs and is regarded as a valued citizen. 
Fraternally he is connected with Maquestion 
Tent No. 654. Knights of the Maccabees. 
Mr. Southwick is a man of considerable 
business capacity, of keen discrimination and 
unflagging energy-. It is these qualities 
which have brought to him a creditable meas- 
ure of success, making" him one of the sub- 
stantial citizens of his comnum.ity. He is a 
western man. possessing the energy and 
adaptability that has always characterizetl 
the people of this section of the ciiuntrv. and 
his worth as a man and citizen is widely ac- 
l-nowledii'ed. 



KFL'BEN D. l-TiFDKRICK. 

Reuben TX b^-edcrick is the editor and 
])roprietor of the Sherman I'ioneer. pub- 
lished ;U Sherman, Michigan, and has made 
this iiaper an index of the progressive dis- 
trict in which it is located. He was Ijorn 
upon a farm in Medina cinnity. Ohio, De- 
cember 7, iS5fi, and is a son of J. 1j. and 



490 



WEXFORD COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



Helen I. (^Seasj l'"re(lerick. whu came tu 
W^exford county, Micliigan, in the spring of 
1896, locating upon a farm in Wexford 
townshi]). Here the father spent his re- 
maining days, passing away on the 19th of 
]'el)ruary, 1901, in his seventy-seventh year. 
J'his worthy couple had a family of eleven 
children, of whom Reuben 1). Frederick is 
the eldest son. He spent the first seven years 
of his life in the county of his nativity and 
then came with his parents to ?\Iichigan, a 
settlement being made in St. Joseph county. 
Tliev lixed upon a farm in Leonidas town- 
s!iip and there the son was reared to man- 
lioocl, taking his ])lace in the fields as soon 
as he was old and strong enough to bear a 
part in the work of tilling the soil. He 
resided in St. Joseph county until 1883 and 
was educated chiefly in the district schools 
of that county. When not engaged with the 
duties of the school room he worked upon 
the farm or else followed the carpenter's 
trade, being engaged at that la))or for three 
\ears. He also taught school fur twn terms. 
On leaving St. Joseph county Mr. b'red- 
erick came to W^exford county and took 
up his abode in Sherman. Xot long after 
this he entered the employ of John H. 
Wheeler in the office of the Sherman Pioneer 
and has since been connected with journal- 
istic work, to a greater or less extent. For 
a year he remained in the office of the Pion- 
eer and then turned his attention to the sta- 
tionary business which he conducted for six 
years. On the expiration of that [leriod he 
sold out and ])urcliascd the paper of 
which he is now the editor and proprietor. 
It was called the Wexford County Pioneer, 
hut he changed its name to the Sherman 
Pioneer. It now has a circulation of near- 
ly six hundred and is a l;right. newsv slieet. 



l)ublished in the interest of the Republican 
party and devoted to the welfare and up- 
building of this section of the state. One 
of its purposes is the dissemination of gen- 
eral and local news and the discussion of 
questions which are of moment to all .\nier- 
ican iieople. Its editorials are clear, con- 
cise and interesting and Mr. Frederick has 
made of the Pioneer a journal of value to the 
community. Since coming to the county 
he has also taught for one term in Antioch 
township. 

It was on the 30th of August, 1885, in 
Sherman, that the marriage of Mr. l-^red- 
erick and ]\Iiss Matilda Martin was cele- 
brated. The lady is the daughter of Wil- 
liam Martin, who died in Orange. Xew Jer- 
sey. .She was born near Newark, Xew 
Jersey, and by her marriage has become 
the mother of three children : Leo M.. 
Floy A. and Esther H. Mr. F'rederick has 
been active in the affairs of the village and by 
his fellow townsmen has been called to a 
number of oftices. serxing as village clerk. 
as clerk of Antioch township, as justice of 
the ])eace and as school trustee. He was 
also appointed postmaster of Sherman in 
Xovember, 1901, by President Roosevelt, 
and is now acccjjtably Idling ihe position. .\ 
valued and prominent representati\e of 
fraternal interests, he holds membership in 
Sherman Lodge Xo. 336. Indeijendent Or- 
der of Odd Fellows, Sherman Camp Xo. 
35I-I, Modern Woodmen of America, Sher- 
man Lodge Xo. 212. Knights of Pythias, and 
Ma(|uestt)n Tent Xo. 654. Knights of tlie 
Maccabees. Whatever pertains to the wel- 
fare of the community and its progress elicits 
his attention and support and when his judg- 
ment ap])roves of a measure he gives to it 
his hearty co-operation and aid. 




JAMES MANSFIELD RESIDENCE. 



IV EX FORD COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



491 



JAMES E. MANSFIELD. 

Many of the Ijcst families ni the state of 
Michigan trace their ancestry to sturdy New- 
England stock. Of course all cannot boast 
of having Puritan blood in their veins, nor 
is it necessary to do so to demonstrate that 
they spring from worthy ancestors. As 
every one knows, the Puritans, while in the 
main acting on worthy moti\es. were both 
fanatical and intolerant and the common- 
sense observer marvels nnich why there 
should be such a scramble among sensible 
people to prove that the founiler of their fam- 
ily tree in .America was one of those who 
crossed the ocean in the "Mayflower" in 
1620. That eminent humorist, Mark Twain, 
has given the most truthful and graphic de- 
.scription of the Puritan of any other writer, 
wiien he says : "The Puritans were a noble 
band of people, who came to America for the 
purpose of worshiping God according to the 
dictates of their own conscience and prevent- 
ing all others from enjoying the same blessed 
privilege." The subject of this review, James 
E. Mansfield, is a native of New England, 
but whether or not of Puritan stock, he neith- 
er affirms nor denies. He is cjuite content to 
let the work of his life speak for itself, with- 
out reference to what the g"enerations of the 
past may or may not have been. 

James E. Mansfield, a resident of section 
14, Boon township, Wexford county, Mich- 
igan, is a native of Connecticut, born at 
Bridgeport, September 19, 1847. His par- 
ents were Henry and Mary (McCormick) 
Mansfield, natives of Ciinnecticut, wlm 
moved to Alichigan in 1852, and settled in 
W^ashtenaw county, where they resided until 
his death. He died in Manchester, Wash- 
tenaw county, in 1861, at the age of forty 
30 



years, while she is a resilient of Ionia county, 
aged about se\-enty-nine years. They were 
the parents of four children, of whom James 
E. was the second, and all are lix-ng. 

At the age of five years James E. Mans- 
field accompanied his parents to Michigan, 
recei\'ed a good common-school education in 
Washtenaw county and there grew to man- 
hood. ^Vhen not occupied with his studies 
he was acquiring lessons of industry in the 
woods, the clearing or in the fields of his fa- 
ther's farm. In October, 1863, when only 
sixteen years of age, he entered the United 
States service as a private soldier, enlisting 
in Company I, I'irst Regiment Michigan 
Engineers and Mechanics. Previous to en- 
listing he had devoted some time to car- 
pentering, was always handy with tools and 
before the close of the war had become quite 
skillful as a mechanic. He saw considerable 
active service, was often under fire, and was 
frequently in rather close quarters, but man- 
aged to escape without harm. He was mus- 
tered out of the service at Nashville, Ten- 
nessee, September jo, 1865, long after the 
war had closeil. Returning to Washtenaw 
county, he secured employment as a carpen- 
ter, which calling he pursued \ery success- 
fully for se\-en years. 

May 22, 1870, James E. Mansfield was 
united in marriage to Miss .\nn .\ntcliff, a 
native of England, born July 25, 1849. Her 
parents were William and Sarah (Turner) 
Antcliff, wild iinmigraled to the L'nited 
States with their family in 1863, and locatetl 
in Washtenaw cnunty. where they resided 
until their deaths, in 1S71 and June. 1881. 
respectively. .After marriage Mr. and Mrs. 
Mansfield continued to reside in Washtenaw 
county until .Vugust. 1872, when they moved 
to Wexford county and established them- 



492 



WEXFORD COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



selves on a farm, a part ui section 14, Boon 
townsliip, wliicli lias been their home from 
that time to the present. He is now the 
owner of tlu-eo humh'ed and sixty acres of 
excellent land, all locateil in Boon township, 
two-thirds of which, or two hundred and 
forty acres, is s])lendidly improved and un- 
der cultivaliiin. i'ine. substantial, commo- 
diious buildings add much to the convenience 
and value of the place, h'ive children have 
been bom to Mr. and Mrs. James E. Mans- 
lield, only three of wlmm are living, viz: 
AN'illier, Clarence and Willis. Their oldest 
child, Bert, a youth of much intelligence and 
great promise, died upon the threshold of 
manhood at the age of nineteen years. The 
other son, Glenn, met with an accident in 
Grand Traverse bay, where he lost his life 
by drowning. Those bereavements weighed 
heavily upon the devoted parents and the 
other children. 

It is only natural that a man possessed of 
as much property in Boon township as Mr. 
Mansfield owns should be deeply interested 
in the governmental affairs of the municipal- 
ity. This interest, however, exacts some pen- 
alties, for the voters insist that he must dis- 
charge the duties of some of the local ofifices. 
.Vt various times in the past years he has 
l)een supervisor of the township, highway 
commissioner and meniljer of the board of 
review. In each position he acquitted him- 
self most satisfactorily to his constituents 
and greatly to the substantial improvement 
and financial benefit of the township. He 
has always acted well his part in life. As a 
citi/en, soldier and official he has merited 
and received the respect, confidence and com- 
mendation of all with whom he came in con- 
tact in these \arious capacities. 



JAMES HAYXES. 

.\niong the successful business men of 
Cadillac whose enterprising spirit and pro- 
gressive methods contributed so largely to 
the city's industrial interest in the past, the 
name of the late James Haynes stands 
clearly and distinctly defined. His father 
was Joseph Haynes, a nati\e of Xew ^ Drk 
and of Dutch descent, his ancestors coming 
to this country in an early day and figur- 
ing quite conspicuously in various parts of 
the Empire state. James Haynes was born 
at Gorham. Xew York, on the 17th day of 
February, 1825. He spent the first twelve 
years of his life in his native commonwealth 
and in 1837 accompanied his father to 
Michigan, settling in the county of Van Bu- 
ren, where he li\ed until the year 1863, de- 
voting the great i)art of the interim to busi- 
riess pursuits in the town of Lawrence. In 
earl\- life he dealt in produce, but later en- 
gaged in the lumljer and grain trade at De- 
catur, to which place he removed from Law- 
rence. After spending nine years at Decatur 
he changed his abode in 1872 to Clam Lake 
and here built, the same year, a large planing- 
mill, which he operated successful 1_\- until 
1877. when the entire plant was destroyed by- 
fire. With characteristic energy he at once 
rebuilt the structure, but upon a more exten- 
si\e scale than formerly, and the business 
continued to grow in magnitude and impor- 
tance it was found necessary to erect a sec- 
(.nd mill of still larger proportions, .\ccord- 
ingly in 1S81 what was known as mill Xo. 2 
was completed, the combined capacity of the 
two pl.'uits a\eraging over two hundred 
thous;ind feet per day. .Meantime, in 1880. 
Air. I l;iynes look in as ]iartners his sons. 



WEXFORD COUNTY. MICHIGAN. 



493 



X. D., C. E. and E. J. Haynes, the firm thus 
ciinslituted Ijeing known as James Haynes 
& Sons, the father having some time previ- 
ously given the latter an interest in the busi- 
ness. The enterprise proved successful from 
the beginning and in due time liecame the 
largest industry of the kind in Cadillac, a re- 
putation it has ever since sustained. Ener- 
getic and progressi\e in all the terms imply, 
with sound judgment, rare foresight and 
fine executive ability, Mr. Haynes establish- 
ed the business upon a solid basis and, with 
tlie assistance of his sons, who early demon- 
strated peculiar fitness for the prosecution of 
large undertakings, the mills kept pace with 
the increasing demands upon them until, as 
stated above, the enterprise became a perma- 
nent fixture in the city. 

Mr. Haynes finished his life work and 
was gathered to his fathers on the 2d of Feb- 
ruary, 1886, his wife dying six years prior to 
that date, at the age of fifty-one years. 
Mrs. Haynes" maiden name was Mary M. 
Bierce. Her father, Xorman Bierce, was 
a native of Connecticut. InU in an early day 
moved to Xew York and from that latter 
state, in 1837, migrated to Alichigan, where 
lie spent the remainder of his days, dying at 
Cadillac in 1885 in the ninety-second year 
of his age, leaving a family of one son and 
three daughters. 

Fraternally James Flaynes was a Mason 
of high standing, having belonged to the blue 
lodge at Cadillac and Peninsular Command- 
erv. Knights Templar, at Kalamazoo. 
Though in no sense a politician, he 
was for manv vears one of the lead- 
ing Democrats in Wexford county and 
as such was elected to \arious of- 
ticird ])ositions. in rdl of which he mani- 
fested the same interest and high business 



qualifications displax'ed in his private enter- 
prises. He serveil one term as justice of 
peace, was township treasurer five years, 
city treasurer one year and at the time of his 
death was both treasurer of the county and 
mayor of Cadillac. For many years his life 
was very closely identified with the business 
interests and industrial prosperity of Cadil- 
lac and Wexford county and in the history 
of both his name will always figure as that 
of one oi the notable men oi his day and 
generation. A strong, well-developed 
character, coml)ined with \igorous mental 
powers, indomitable moral courage, untiring 
energy and a capacity for large undertakings, 
he nobly fulfilled his mission and at its close 
left to posterity and to the community an 
honorable name, the memory of which will 
live coeval with the history of the flourish- 
ing city with whose industrial prosperity he 
had so much to do. 

Charles E. Haynes, son of James and 
Mary M. Flaynes, was born in Van Buren 
count}', Michigan, February 22. 1855. 
When he was about eight years old his par- 
ents moved to Decatur, this state, and it was 
in the schools of that town that he received 
his educational training, having lived there 
until coming to Clam Lake in the year 1873, 
Here he grew to man's estate, the mean- 
while becoming familiar with business af- 
fairs under his father's direction, and in 
1883 he went to Jennings where he built 
and for some time o])erated wliat was known 
as the C. E. Haynes ^; Lomitany's planing 
mill. Returning to Cadillac in February, 
1888, he purchased the Spaulding mill, west 
of Hobart, which he operated during the sea- 
son of 1889, and the following year made an 
extensive tour of the western states and 
territories, spending some time in Washing- 



494 



J VEX FORD COUNTV. MICHIGAN. 



ton and Oregon, buying and selling lumber. 
In 1S91 he returned to Cadillac and the 
next year bought a halt interest with his bnj- 
ther. E. J. Haynes. the Hrm thus constituted 
being still known as the Haynes Brothers 
]^laning Mill, the largest industry of the 
kinil in the citv. In addition tn dressing 
lumber thf hrm deals e.\tensi\el\' in all kinds 
of lumber, laths, singles, etc.. and do a suc- 
cessful and far-reaching business, their pat- 
ronage extending oxer a large area of con- 
tiguous territt)ry besides shipping extensive- 
ly to distant ])oints. Mr. Haynes is an ac- 
complished business man. energetic and thor- 
oughly reliable, and much of the success 
of the large enterprise with which he is con- 
nected is due to his efforts. In 1883 he 
was elected alderman and as such looked 
carefully after the city's interests and made 
a credital)le and praiseworthy record. Per- 
sonally Mr. Haynes is the embodiment of 
good nature, a hale fellow well met. and his 
popularity is only boun<led by the limits be- 
3'(_)nd wliicli he has not become acquainted. 
He was married. June 2(1. 1879. to Miss 
Ellen O. Stevens, of Parishville. New York, 
and they have a beautiful and attractive 
home in Cadillac which is frequented by the 
best society circles of the cit_\'. 

Elbert J. Haynes. brother of the i)reced- 
ing and third son of the late James Haynes. 
was born Xoxemlier 22. 1859. in Eawrence. 
^'an P)aren count}-. Michigan, and receixed 
his education in the schools of Decatur, to 
which place the family moved in 1863. In 
July. 1S73. '''^ came to Clam Lake with 
his parents and here assisted in operating 
the planing-mill, an account of which is 
given in the preceding paragra])hs. becoming 
a prominent factor in the industry and dem- 
ijnstrating unusual business ability fiir one 



of his age and experience. Meantime he 
iinishe<l his literary education in the schools 
of Clam Eake. later completed a full business 
course at the Xorthern Indiana Normal 
School and Business College at \"alparaiso 
and, returning home, took charge of his 
father's books and correspondence, attend- 
ing to all the details of the othce until Janu- 
ary 1. i88j. when the firm of James Haynes 
o- Sons was formed, consisting of Xorman 
D.. Charles E. and Elbert J. Charles 1-:. 
withdrew in May. 1883, the subject, with 
liis father and other brother, continuing the 
business until 1886. James Haynes dying 
in February of that year, Xorman D. and 
Elbert J. continued the enterprise under the 
original name, in addition to \vhich the sub- 
ject was appointed county treasurer to Hll 
the vacancy in that office caused b\' his 
father's death. Elbert J. Haynes first en- 
tered the county treasurer's ofl'ice in Janu- 
ary. 1885, as deputy under his father and 
served as such until April i. 1886. when, as 
stated abo\e. he was appointed the regular 
custodian of the public funds, discharging 
his duties ably and conscientiously in l)oth 
capacities. When Xorman D. withdrew 
from the firm. January, 1892, to engage in 
the same line of business elsewhere, Elbert 
J. continued at Cadillac and m July. 189 J. 
the i)rcsent firm of Playnes Brothers, con- 
sisting of Charles E. and the suliject. was 
f' irnied. 

Mr. 1 iavnes has been actively identified 
with the industrial interests of Cadillac since 
young manhood and has proven one of the 
enterprising and reliable business men of 
the city. Endowed by nature with strong 
mentality and keen perceptive faculties, and 
through a long and severe course of train- 
ing proving able t<i discharge worthily im- 




C. C. DAUGHERTY. 



WEXFORD COUNTY. MICHIGAN. 



495 



l)i>rtant trusts, lie lias made his presence 
felt as a forceful factor in the comniunitv 
and stands toda}' one of the most conspic- 
uous figures in the industrial affairs of this 
section of the state. On the 2()\.h day of 
March. 1XX3, he was hapijily married to 
Aliss l.ouie I". Taplin. the union being' 
blessed with two sons, Charles James and 
Merritt Mearne. 



CHESTER C. DAUGHERTY. 

Chester C. Daug-herty. who is now serv- 
ing as supervisor of Antioch township and is 
one of the leading and influential citizens of 
\Vexford county, was Ixaru in Spencer town- 
ship. Medina county, Ohio, on the 12th of 
April, 1856. His father was Charles H. 
Daug'herty. a farmer by occupation who also 
dealt to quite an extent in lumber. He chose 
as a companion and helpmate for life's jour- 
nev Armina X. Inman. and on their removal 
from the Buckeye state to Michigan they set- 
tled in Allegan county, where they lived for 
many years. They are now residents of 
(irand Rapids and are people of the highest 
respectability, haxing many warm friends. 

Chester C. Daugherty is the second in 
order of birth of their four children. He 
was only three years of age at the time of 
his parents' removal from Ohio an<l. there- 
fore, he was reared in Allegan county, where 
he obtained a common-school education and 
received ample training in farm labor, thus 
gaining a practical experience in the work 
which he has chosen as a life pursuit. He 
lived at home until 1879, when he was mar- 
ried. It was on the 9th of January of that 
year that he wedded Miss Cora B. Averill, 



who was born in Medina, Ohio, on the i6th 
of February. 1858, a daughter of Lanader 
B. and Eleanor (Depew) Averill. They lo- 
cated in Allegan county. Michigan, in 1863, 
and afterward became residents of Wexford 
county, Mr. Averill departing this life in 
Antioch township in 1893 in his se\'enty- 
sixth year. In his familv were eleven chil- 
dren, of whom Mrs. Daugherty was the fifth 
in order of birth. Her girlhood days were 
spent in Allegan county from the age of five 
years and to its school system she is indebted 
for the educational privileges she received. 

After his marriage Mr. Daugherty con- 
tinned to reside upon the home farm for two 
years and then, in May, 1881. he came to 
Wexford countx' with his wife and one child, 
settling on the farm in Antioch township 
which has since been his home with the ex- 
ception of a period of a year and a half. He 
has always devoted his time and energies to 
farming and he now owns a tract of land of 
eighty acres, ot which lifty acres is under 
cultivation and the arable land returns to 
liim good harvests. 

The home of Mr. and Mrs. Daugherty 
has been blessed with two children, but the 
daughter. Eleancir. died in infancy. The 
son. John J., is still with his parents. Mr. 
and Mrs. Daughert\- are most hospitable 
people and tlieir home is a favorite resort 
with their many friends, who delight in the 
good cheer of the household. Mr. Daugh- 
erty has held the office of supervisor of An- 
tioch township, has also been township clerk, 
township treasurer and justice of the peace. 
!n the last named position his rulings 
have been strictly fair and impartial and 
in the other positions he has discharged 
his duties with marked fidelity. The cau.se 
of education has ever found in him a warm 



496 



WEXUORD COUNTY. MICHIGAN. 



friend. He votes with the Repul)lican party 
and on tlie ijtli of September. 1902, he was 
nominated on its ticket for the office of treas- 
urer of Wexford county at the convention 
wliich was liekl in Cadillac. There were 
seventy-six delegates present and he received 
the vote of forty-eight. Mr. Daugherty is a 
man of marked individuality, of strong pur- 
pose and of sterling rectitude of character 
and Wexford county and especially Antioch 
township has profited by his labors in its be- 
half, while in his business afifairs he has 
found a good source of livelihood that has 
made him one of the substantial citizens of 
his coinitv. 



JOIIX A. l-ATFTS. 

The business career of John A. Evitts 
has been attended with success and, in 
the possession of a comfortable competence, 
he is now largely living retired, enjoying 
the fruits of his former toil. He makes 
his home in Mesick. where he was formerly 
engaged in the hardware business. In the 
various other pursuits he has followed in 
different parts of this state, he has so directed 
his energies that his labors lia\e brought 
him a desirable financial return. 

Mr. Evitts' birthplace was a farm in 
h'ranklin county. Pennsyhania. and his natal 
day was January 14, 1848. Ilis ])arents. 
Daniel and Jane (Steele) Evitts, were also 
natives of the Keystone state and both died 
in l*"ranklin county, the father passing away 
when only about thirty-five years of age. The 
mother long survi\-ed him and died at the 
age of seventy-eight years. In their family 
were five children, of whom John .\. is the 
third in order of birth. 



On the old homestead in the county of 
his nativity, John A. Evitts spent the days 
of his youth and when but a lad of seven- 
teen years he offered his services in defense 
of the Union, enlisting on the 8th of March, 
1865. as a member of Company F, Seventy- 
ninth Peiuisylvania Veteran \'olunteers, 
with which he served until the 12th of Julv 
lollowing, when, the war having been 
brought to a victorious close, he was mus- 
tered out in Philadelphia. He then re- 
turned to Franklin county, Pennsylvania, but 
in the same year made his way westward to 
Galesburg, Illinois, where he learned the tin- 
ner's trade, .serving an apprenticeship of 
three years. He did not follow that pur- 
suit, liowever, until a number of years had 
passed and in the meantime gave his atten- 
tion to other work. From Galesburg he 
came to ^Michigan, locating in Berrien 
county in 1S68, and through one winter 
term he attended school at Niles. He then 
followed farm work until 1876 and in the 
summer season of that year he operated a 
boat on the St. Joseph river for the Goiid- 
rich Transportation Company, living at that 
time in St. Joseph. Michigan. He ne.xt went 
to Chicago, where he was employed as an 
auctioneer for two years, on the expiration 
of which period he established his home in 
Xewaygo county, Michigan. In the latter 
place he \\orked in the lumber woods until 
the spring of 1891 and during that time he 
had also purchased and improved two farms 
in that county. In 1891 he discontinued his 
labors in connection with the lumber industry 
and devoted his entire attention to his ag- 
ricultural pursuits until 181)4. when he 
left Xcwavgo count\- and went to Thomp- 
son ville, Benzie county, Michigan. It was 
at that time that he resumed work at 



1 i 



IVEXrORD COUNTY. MICHIGAN. 



497 



the trade which he learned in tlie Mississippi 
valley. lie liecame the owner of a hardware 
store, which he conducted for three years, 
when he sold out and returned to Xewaygo 
county. There he purchased a business 
block and residence in the town of Grant, 
and ini])rove<i the property, intending to oc- 
cupy the residence and to engage in the 
hardware business in his store building, but 
relincjuishing this idea, he sold out there and 
removed to Mesick, Wexford count}', where 
he has made his home since the fall of iSqj. 
ITere he established a hardware store, whicli 
he carried on successfully for three years, 
having a large patronage. He then dis- 
posed of his stock and later he purchased the 
old Mesick House, which he removed to its 
present site and remodeled, and it is now 
known as the Hotel Evitts. 

During the first period of his residence 
in Newaygo county. Air. Evitts was mar- 
ried, in I'remont, Michigan, on the jSth of 
Januar\-, 1878, to Miss Eliza Crouse, who 
was born in \'ermilion, Ohio, a daughter of 
Conrad Crouse. He is a member of 
Thompsonville Lodge, lndei)en(lent Order (>f 
Odd Fellows, and is also afifiliated with Mc- 
Call Tent, Knights of the Maccabees, of 
Thompsonville. His business interests 
have been of a varietl character and have 
been carefully managed, while his invest- 
ments ha\e been judiciously made. These 
two elements have been potent factors in his 
prosperous career. His life has lieen one 
of continuous acti\ity. in which has been 
accorded due recognition of labor, and to- 
day he is numbered among the substantial 
citizens of the county. .\t all times be is 
ready to lend his aid and co-operation to 
ino\-cmenls for the general good, 



WILLIAM KELLEY. 

Among the leading business men of 
Cadillac in days gone by none took a more 
active interest in the material development 
of the town or contributed in a greater de- 
gree to its general prosperity than the late 
William Kelley, a brief outline of whoso 
career is herewith presented. Mr. Kelley 
was a native of Ireland, born in the month 
of Januar)-, 1843. When about seven years 
old he was brought to the L'nited States by 
his lather, who settled in Xew York, and 
there died sliortly after his arrival, leaving 
his orphan son, poor and friendless, to make 
his own way in the world. Young William 
turned his hand to any honorable employ- 
me.it he could find and, being endowed with 
an independent spirit and tireless energy, 
he experienced little difficulty in earning a 
comfortable livelihood. At the breaking out 
of the great Rebellion he was one of the 
first young men in his county to tender his 
.service? to the government, enlisting early 
in 1861, and not long after entering the 
army it fell to him to take part in the bloody 
and disastrous battle of Bull Run. While 
in the thickest of the fray he fell into the 
hands of the enemy and was held a prisoner 
for eleven months, being first taken to Libljy 
prison, Richmond, and later to Salisbury, 
North Carolina, where he was afterwards 
exchanged. Rejoining his command as 
soon as possible, he served to the end of the 
war and earned an honorable record as a 
soldier, participating in a number of noted 
campaigns and bloody battles and prosing 
in most trying and dangerous conditions a 
true soldier and high-minded patriot. 

On (|uitting the service at the cessation 



498 



J i- EX FORD COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



of liostillities Mr. Kelley returned to New 
\'ork, l)ut soon afterwards came to Miclii- 
gaii and settled at (jreenvillc. where he was 
engaged in Inisiness until his remi>\al. a little 
later, to the town of Lal<e\iew. Meantime, 
on August 2. i(S6j. he was united in mar- 
riage to Miss Xancy \ an Xess. of (ireen- 
\ille. daughter of George and Sarah (Haw- 
ley) Van Ness, early settlers and leading 
residents of that city. After remaining at 
Lake View until August. 1872. Mr. Kelley 
disposed of his interests there and removing 
to Clam Lake embarked in the lumber busi- 
ness, which he carried on quite e.xtensivelv 
for several years, the meantime becoming 
acti\ely identified with the material priis- 
])erity of tlic coniniunit\\ He ma<le nionev 
and sj)ent it judiciously for the improve- 
ment of the town, invested in real estate and 
erecting Iniildings. besides taking a leading 
])art in public affairs. He was for several 
years a member of the local educational 
Ixiard, also served in the city council and in 
these and other official capacities was un- 
tiring in his efforts to promote the welfare 
of the people and ad\'ertise the advantages 
of Clam Lake to the outside world. In poli- 
tics he was an unyielding l\e])ul)lican and 
his inlluencc in the councils of the party made 
him OIK- of its trusted and aggressive lead- 
ers in W'e.xford county. While a zealous 
politician he was naturally and wi.sely re- 
luctant to lea\e tlie career he had marked 
out for himself for the more uncertain and 
less satisfactory arena of official life, hence 
he had no aspirations or ambitions in that 
direction. Mr. Kelley stood high in tlie 
esteem of the i)ublic and as a neighbor and 
citizen always wielded a forceful influence 
tor the welfare of the community and made 
his presence felt for good in all of his re- 



lations with his fellow men. As a patron of 
the Presbyterian church he lived an earnest, 
(jod-fearing life and dignified his religious 
professions by his works of faith and labors 
of love. At the time of his death he was 
trustee of the Cadillac I'resbyterian church, 
the growth and prosperity of which materi- 
ally and spiritually were largely due to liis 
unfailing interests and liberal financial sup- 
port. His was indeed a full and u.seful life, 
fraught with great good to his friends and 
to the world, and his death, which occurred 
in Cadillac on the 26th day of December, 
1879, after a brief illness, removed from the 
city one of its prominent and praiseworthy 
citizens and leading men of affairs. 

Mr. Kellev was the father of three chil- 
dren, the oldest of whom, a daughter by the 
name of Edith M.. is now the wife of H; T. 
Morgan ; Edwin V., the .second, is a worthy 
citizen of Cadillac and the youngest of the 
family. Helen .A. married E. \\'. Creen. in- 
s])ector general of Michigan. 



DAMD B. A\'ERILL. 

Those brave men who in the vears of 
their country's struggle for the perpetuity of 
its government institutions bravely laid aside 
all personal interests and went forth to offer 
their lives, if need lie. that the unity of the 
Republic might be preserved are always de- 
serving of a prominent place, not only in th^ 
history of their locality, but in the histoni- of 
the nation. The subject of this review. 
David fj. Averill. of Liberty township, de- 
serves even more credit than the average vet- 
eran of the Civil war for the part he took in 
that fierce, sanguinary and most remarkable 




DAVID B. AVERILL. 




MRS. D. B. AVERILL. 



w 



EXFORD COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



499 



struggle- Although but little more than 
fourteen years of age at the commencement 
of hostilities, so eager was he to take part in 
the conflict that his relati\es and friends 
were with difhcultv able to restrain his youth- 
ful ardor. Several times during the first 
.two years of the war he attempted to enlist, 
but his boyish face and youthful figure pre- 
vented his acceptance. The examining board 
declared that it was yet too early in the war 
to commence fighting battles with babies. A 
good deal discouraged, but by no means dis- 
heartened, he waited, tried again and on the 
14th of September, 1863, had the satisfaction 
of being enrolled in Lompany E., Tenth 1 
Michigan Cavalry. 

David P.. Averill, who resides on a part 
of section t,t,. Liberty township, was born m , 
York township, Medina county. Ohio, De- 
cember 15, 18+6. His parents were Eilward 
and Mary (P. ranch) Averill, the former an 
industrious, energetic and thrifty farmer. 
He and his wife were the parents of six chd- 
dren. two sons and four daughters. In 1856, 
when the subject was ten years old, the fam- 
ily moved to Allegan county. Michigan, and 
settled in D.jrr t.iwnship. There the mother 
died when she had reached her .seventy- 
second year. The father now resides in Al- 
legan county, aged eighty years. 

In Dorr township the subject continued 
to reside until September 14, 1863, when he 
siicceeded in enlisting in the United States 
army. Several of the years previous to this 
he had spent in school and was possessed of 
a \ery fair education. He continued in the 
service until after the close of the war. be- 
ing mustered out Xovember ti, 1865, at 
Memphis, Tennessee. With his regiment he 
participated in many of the battles of the 
closing years of the war. .\t the battle of 



p-lat Creek Bridge, May 24- )!^^'4' ''e. with 
a number of others of his regiment, was cap- 
tured by the Confederates. However, he re- 
mained in the hands of the enemy only about 
twentv-four hours, .\biding his opportun- 
itv. he succeeded in giving his captors the 
slip and was gratified in being able to reach 
the Union lines in safety. He and his com- 
pany participated in the engagement at 
(Jreenville. Tennessee, Octoljer 12, 1864, 
which resulted in the death of the rebel 
guerrilla General Morgan. His company was 
a part of the troops engaged in the last 
Stoneman raid, during March and .\prd, 
1865. They started from Knoxville, Ten- 
nessee, went through the Carolinas and por- 
tions of Virginia and were constantly occu- 
pied in marching and fighting the greater 
part of three months. The life of a soldier 
was by no means distasteful to Mr. Averill. 
The excitement was to him a constant stimu- 
lant and the hardships endured seemed to 
have little eft'ect on the rugged constitution 
of the boy. When the war was over and 
others we're rejoicing in the prospect of an 
early return to their peaceful rural homes, it 
was almost with regret that Mr. Averill laid 
down his arms and accepted his discharge. 
He was neither blood-thirsty nor in love with 
sanguinary strife, but the excitement of 
camp and field, the constant change of scen- 
ery on the march and even the very danger 
that constantly threatened his life was fas- 
cinating to the imaginative youth. 

On leaving the service Mr. .\\erill re- 
turned to Allegan county. Michigan, where 
j he engaged in farming and where he contin- 
I ued to reside until about twelve years ago. 
', Mav j8. [868, he was united in marriage to 
]Mi.ss Marv C. Weaver, a daughter of Brad- 
1 ley C. and Saljy M. (Butler) Weaver. He 



500 



IVEXFORD COUNTY, MICHIGA 



N. 



Mas a iiati'.c of Connecticut, slie of Pennsyl- 
A-aiiia. Tliey settled in Genesee county. New 
"^'ork, wliere tliey remained a number of 
years, then moved to Kent county, Micliigan, 
settling in Byron township. Tliev were the 
parents of five children, of wh.mi Mrs. 
Averill is the oldest. She was horn in 
Byron township. Kent county. June 20. 1848, 
Mhere she was reared, educated and grew to' 
womanhood. After their marriage the sub- 
ject and wife settled on a farnv in Allegan 
county where they continued to reside until 
1 89 1, when they moved to W'e.xford count v 
and settled on a tract of land in section 7,1, 
TJbcrty township. This they have improved 
and made a desirable, \aluable farin, and 
there they ha\e continued to reside e\er since. 
They are the parents of two children. \iz : i 
Harry M. anci Elias L. The farm up..n 
which the family resides consists of eighty I 
acres, si.xty acres of which is well improved 
and under cultivation. 

Although a resident of W'e.xford county 
only about twelve years, Mr. Averill has | 
been honored by the voters of Liberty town- 
shi]) w^ith the oflice of supervisor three years, 
justice of the peace one term and township 
treasurer two years. .\t present he lu.Ids a ! 
commission from the chief executive of the I 
state as a notary public. He is a member of 
Oliver P. Morton Post Xo. 54, Grand Army | 
of the Republic, at Manton. and has served 
as commander of the post. The Grand 
Army and the Grange are the only secret so- 
cieties to which he belongs. He is master 
of Rose Hill Grange No. 949. Patrons of 
Husbandry. Jn i)olitics he has always acted 
with the Republican i)arty, for he considered 
the success of its principles and policies most 
cs.sential to the welfare of the countrv. In 
every movement for the benefit or develop- 



ment of the township of his residence he is 
always in the forefront. He is a worthy 
man and an enterprising citizen, whose life 
m every place he has live.l and every callin- 
in which he engaged has been productive o{ 
much goo<l. not only to his immediate family 
and tnen.ls but to the communitv and the 
state. 



PORTER WHEELER. 
J I'lfty ur sixty years ago, in the region 

liiat had been known as the Northwest ter- 
ritory, out of which the five great states of 
Ohio, Indiana. Illinois. Afichigan and Wis- 
consin were carved, there was a very little 
oilier than farming for the a\erage man of 
imiited means to turn for employment an<l 
I support. There were few shops, scarcely 
j any railroads and no factories worthy of the 
: name. Hence, the early settlers were all 
agriculturists. Of ct>urse they had to be 
woodmen first, for the clearing of the land 
I was a prerequisite to the planting of a crop. 
The subject of this review. Porter Wheeler. 
Nvas born in Ohio more than fifty-six years 
ago, was reared in that locality and therefore 
was bred to the calling of a tiller of the soil. 
U is an honorable and independent avocation 
and. although circumscribed in its opportuni- 
ties for amassing much material wealth, the 
securing of civic honors or the acc|uisition of 
fame, there is more genuine contentment 
and real happiness to the .sipiare inch in the 
'•"ral districts of the country than there is 
to the .square mile in the towns and cities of 
Ihc land. The farmer has no occasion for 
enxying any one. but pe(^ple in other walks 
of life have many rea.sons and ample justifi- 
c-ilion for envying him. 

Porter Wheeler is a native of Ohio, born 



WEXFORD COUNTW MICHIGAN. 



501 



near ^\'elIing■ton. Lorain comity. I'^hruar}- 4, 
1S4O. His parents .were \ olorus and 
Cliarity ( Pomeroy j Wheeler, both nati\es of 
Massachusetts, where they were reared and 
married. Early in wedded life they left the 
east, which was already showing signs of 
congestion, and came west to Ohio to better 
their condition. They settled near Welling- 
ton, Lorain county, on a tract of woodland, 
which by hard labor they converted into a 
farm. There they remained, rearing and 
educating a noble family of Ixiys and girls, 
until each of his parents was visiteil 1)_\' 
death.. The mother was the first to pass 
to the great hereafter, expiring when a lit- 
tle more than seventy years old. Her iiiis- 
band survived her a few ilays, passing away 
when in the se\enty-ninth year of his age. 
They were the parents of eight children, 
two sons and six daughters, four of whom 
grew to maturity and have acted well the 
part assigned to them upon the stage of life. 

Porter Wheeler was the oldest chikl of 
the famiK'. He was rearetl upon his father's 
farm in Lorain county, attending" school i.i 
the winter seasons and devoting the other 
seasons of the year to the labor on the farm. 
His industry was noticeable in Ijoth places 
and even at that early day he gave promise 
oi the good and useful life lie has since led 
and is now leading, a life that lias been most 
beneficial not only to himself and to his im- 
mediate family, but to e\cr}- community in 
which he has resided. 

Early in the summer of 1864. when not 
yet eighteen years of age. Porter \\ heeler 
enlisted in Company E. One Hundred :uid 
Twenty-eighth Regiment, Ohio Volunteer 
Infantry. I\lost of his war record was 
guard duty on Johnson's Island. He faith- 
fully performed his duty and was so fortun- 



ate as to ne\'er be confined to hosjiital on ac- 
count of injur}- received in battle. He 
served until peace was declared, when he 
returned home to Lorain county, Ohio. One 
of the most commendable characteristics of 
the American is the ease and facility with 
which he turns from one avocation to an- 
other diametrically its opposite. In the 
case of Porter Wheeicr, the dashing young 
soldier was transformed into the patient, 
plodding, contented agriculturist and during 
ihe next three years he devoted himself to 
that pursuit. 

At Wellington, Lorain county. Ohio, 
October 8, 1868, Porter Wheeler was united 
in marriage to Miss Emma Breckenridge, a 
native of Ohio, born in Lorain county, Eeb- 
ruary 17, 1851. She is a lady richly endowed 
l)y nature with many physical graces and 
much mental strength, which natural gifts 
have been supplemented by education and 
training. There are few among the early 
pioneers of any new country possessed of 
the grace and accomplishments of her who is 
the devoted wife of the subj'ect of this re- 
\ iew. Her |)arents were Lewis and .M;u"v 
Ann (Munson) Breckenridge. he a nati\e 
of Vermont and she of Canada. They w ere 
married in the east and sought the west lo 
lind a home and build up a fortune. The\' 
located in Lorain count}'. Ohio, where six 
children, one son and five daughters, were 
born to them, and there these olYspring 
were reared to industry and schooled in 
moralit}- and \irtue as well as knowledge. 
.Mrs. Wheeler was the fourth child of the 
family. At the time of his death Mr. 
I^>recken ridge was seventy years of age. His 
widow is now a fesident of W^elhngton. aged 
se\-enty-eight years. She is a member of the 
Disciple church. 



502 



WEXFORD COUNTY. MICHIGAN. 



After tlieir marriage Mr. and Mrs. Por- 
ter Wheeler coiitimied to reside in their na- 
tive county for the next three years. The 
high prices of the years of llie war liad 
greatly enhanced tiie value of land in tlie 
well-settled states. Ohio among that number, 
so that a desirable farm was bcvond the 
reach of so slender a purse as that possessed 
by Porter Wheeler. People w!io had land 
to rent were independent and exacting. Like 
mo.st landlords, they absorbed the most of 
the crop. To them the lion's share went, 
while to the man through whose sweat the 
])lowing, planting, cultivating and gather- 
ing was done, only a paltry pittance went 
to remunerate him for his services. A 
thoughtless, indolent man might have missed 
his grievances and made the best of these 
unfortunate conditions. Xot so with Por- 
ter \\'heeler. He knew that there is no 
wrong for whicli a remedy may not be found 
and he was not long in finding the true 
remedy for dear land. 

.\rranging his affairs in Ohio as speedily 
as possil)le and cHsposing of such belongings 
as he did not choose to take with him, he and 
his family came to Wexford count v. Michi- 
gan, early in tlie spring of 1871, and entered 
ui)on a homestead of one hundred and si\l\- 
acres, in I'lierry ( lro\c township, a ])art of 
.section 6, u|)on w hich lie built a home and in- 
stalled his f:iniily, which then consisted of 
his wife and little daughter. There tbey 
li\ed until 1883. when they transferred their 
residence to section 18. in the .same town- 
ship. The family were not the earliest set- 
tlers of Cherry (irove township. l)ul thev 
were the first settlers within its borders to 
"\vn a team of horses, and their second Hi- 
tie daughter. .Minnie May. now the wife of 
.Merrick Stocking, was the first wliite child 



born in the town.ship. Porter Wheeler is 
now the owner of three hundred and tw enty- 
eight acres, one hundred of which are well 
mi])roved and under cultivation, (lood. 
substantial buiklings adorn and add to the 
comfort, convenience and value of the place. 
'J he home is a most plea.sant one. all that 
coul<! be desired, and the family is one of the 
happiest a person could desire to meet. Fi\e 
children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Wheeler, 
viz.: Edith Lillian. Minnie May. bred 
Lewis, .\rthur T\arl and Etta Pearl. Edith 
Lillian became the wife of \\ illiani Lynn, 
but her matrimonial career was sadlv brief, 
she dying at the early age of eighteen 
years. Minnie May. is the wife of Merrick 
Stocking, as has been heretofore mentioned. 
She was for five years a successful teacher 
n\ \\ exford county, and is now a member of 
the Congregational church at Cadillac. 



IR.V JEXKIXS. 

Many are under the impression that a 
term of service by a young man in the armv 
or navy, covering a ])eriod of several years. 
unfits him for the ordinary duties devolving 
upon him as ;i citizen. In .some instances 
there is little (kmbt that it does, but in the 
great majority of cases the ex-.soldier or ex- 
saik)r proves himself as worthy. cap.d)le and 
industrious as those who know nothing of 
life in the service of the government. In- 
deed it often hajjpens that a few vears of 
military or naval discipline has bad a most 
salutary and beneficial effect upon the char- 
acter and disposition of the youth, and that 
he returns to his Iwme. when his time has 
expired, much more of a man mentally and 




IRA JENKINS. 



WEXFORD COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



503 



pliysically than he was wlien he joined the 
service. Tlie suhject of this bingraphy, Ira 
Jenkins, of Colfax township, spent the entire 
five years preceeding the attainment of his 
majority in the United States navy. He re- 
tnrned home just at the beginning- of the 
("i\il war, and altliongh greviously tempted 
to re-enhst, liis ^-earning for the life of a 
"land lubber" was such that it overcome any 
tendency he may have had to again re-enter 
the service. 

Ira Jenkins is a native of Xew Hamp- 
shire, born in Manchester, September 30, 
1840. His parents were John and Eliza 
(Brown) Jenkins, natives of Massachusetts, 
both having been born in Townsend, Middle- 
sex county. For many years in his native 
town previous to his removal to New Hamp- 
shire the subject's father was an extensive 
dealer in hsh. The latter years of the life 
of both were spent in New Hampshire and 
both died at ^\'est Thornton, the death of 
one following the other within a short time. 
.She was se\'enty-seven years old at the time 
of her death and he eighty-one. They were 
the parents of ten children, of whom the sub- 
ject was tlie youngest. 

In his native city of Manchester the first 
ten years of the life of Ira Jenkins were spent. 
From there he went to Lincoln, New Hamp- 
shire, where he remained until he ^\■as si.x- 
teen years old, when he enlisted in the United 
States navy and served for a period of fi\e 
years, completing his term of ser\-ice at the 
beginning of the Ci\il war. ()n returning 
to his home in X^ew Hampshire he engaged 
in farming, devoting himself with zeal and 
earnestness to the calling and with a suc- 
cess fully commensurate with the efforts put 
forth. February 2, 1863, ^^"^ Jenkins was 
united in marriage to Miss Sarah M. Thayer, 



a native of Franc<inia, Grafton county. New 
Hampshire, born April 2j. 1843. ^^^'' P'*''" 
ents were Zora and Johanna (Aldrich) 
Thayer, nati\'es of New Hampshire. The 
father was by occupation a farmer, prosper- 
ous and financially in good circumstances. 
M the early age of thirty-two years the 
mother passed into eternity, being survived 
by the father, who is still lixing. a \enerable 
resident of Paw Paw, Michigan, where he is 
honored and res])ected for the blameless and 
e.xemplary life which he has led. They were 
the parents of se\en children, (jf whom ]Mrs. 
Jenkins is the oldest. To Mr. and Mr.'^. 
Jenkins the following children were l)orn, 
viz: George I., Johanna A., Joel li., Ira 
J., William A. ; May is the wife of Dr. Al- 
fred Watson, a practicing physican and sur- 
geon of Cadillac, Michigan. Joel died when 
eighteen months old. Mr. and ]\[rs. Jen- 
kins have also an adopted child, named \\'ill- 
iam A. 

For five years after their marriage the 
subject and his wife continued to reside in 
their native state, then, desiring to improve 
their condition and that of their children, 
in 1868 they moved to Van Buren county, 
Michigan, where he engaged in farming for 
six years. In November, 1874, they came to 
Wexford county and in the spring of the 
succeeding year settled upon the farm which 
is now and has been from that time their 
home. When he located upon it the place 
was wholly unimpro\-ed, but, with the char- 
acteristic ardor of his nature. Mr. Jenkins 
set to work cleruMug the place and soon had 
the satisfaction of seeing it a fertile, well 
cultiwated and productive farmi. Upon it 
he has erected a neat residence, sufficiently 
large for all of the wants of the family, and 
it is tastefullv, if not luxuriously, furnished. 



504 



PV EX FORD COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



Tlie otiier I'p.rm buildings accord niceiv with 
tlie family home, being large, substantial and 
well constructed. The farm com])rises only 
forty acres, bu! c\ery foot of the land is un- 
der cultivation, and under the skillful man- 
agement of the owner the yearly product of 
the place exxeeds many farms that are sev- 
eral times its size. .Many limes during his 
residence in Colfa.x township Ira Jenkins has 
been honored by his fellow citizens with 
their suffrage. He has been highway com- 
missioner of the township, justice of tlie 
peace, and during the greater part nf the 
time a member of the school board. Mrs. 
Jenkins is a devout member of the Alethodist 
clinch, and an active worker not only in re- 
ligious matters, but in every deserving, 
worthy cause. If his services for the govern- 
ment during the latter five years of his boy- 
hood have been in the least detrimental to 
Mr. Jenkins, neither himself, his family nor 
his neighliors ha\c vet fi.>und it out. 



(■.h:()i<(;i': .\. reyxolds. 

I'ultilling all of life's reciuirements ac- 
cording to bis highest ideal of right, aiding 
the spirit of enterprise and improvement. 
and using his intluence for what benefits 
humanity and builds up the community, it 
may be truly said of the worthy subject of 
this ro\iew "Jlo has made the world belter 
!)}• having li\c(l in it." He is an ol<l resi- 
dent of Selma township. Wexford county. 
His life has been an active and busy one. but 
he is now living a soniewhal retired life in 
the enjoyment of the fruits of his labors. 

George .\. Reynolds, the subject of this 



review, resides on a part of section 1 1. Selma 
town.shi]), Wexford county. He was born 
in West Granville. Washington county. 
Xew York. August jj. 1817, and is there- 
fore at the present time in the eighty-si.xth 
year of his age. W hen he was eight years 
old, in 1825, the family moved to Onondaga 
count}-. Xew York, where they resided some 
four years. They then removed to Alle- 
gany county, Xew York, where Mr. Rev- 
nolds grew to manhood and where he be- 
came skilled in the trade of a cooper, w hicli 
business he followed for more than a (|uarter 
of a century. 

In Allegany county, Xew ^'ork, on the 
4th day of July, 1842, (ieorge A. Reynolds 
was united in marriage to Miss Elizabeth 
Thorpe, who proved a most faithful and 
dutiful wife. She lived to the age of sixty - 
eight years, following the fortunes of the 
family from .Xew York to Missouri, back 
again to Xew "S'ork and thence to Selma 
township, W'e.xford county, Michigan, where 
she died in September, 1885, ending a well- 
spent life in peace and contentment. They 
were the i)arenls of three children, \h.: 
Orin was a soldier in the I'ederal army dur- 
ing the war <if the Rebellion and w;is taken 
l)risoner at Xcwbern, Xorth Carolina ; he w as 
one of the unfortunates incarcerated in .\n- 
ilersonville prison and perished there from 
starvation and exposure: Cora is the wife 
of Alonson De Bow ; Xettie is the wife of Dr. 
John Sabin, a resident of Couer De Leon. 
Idaho. 

Immedi.'itely after their marriage the 
subject of this re\iew and his wife estab- 
lished themseKcs in ;i home of their own in 
.Mlegany county. .Xew N'ork. where they re- 
sided iiiaiiv \ears. be working ;U his business 
as a cooper, in which c;dling he was quite 



V/EXFORD COUNTY. MICHIGAN. 



505 



[inispei'ijus. A desire to see mure ot the coun- 
tr_\ and to find a location where his ser\-ices 
would receive lietter remuneration caused him 
to mo\'e ills family to Newton county, 
Missouri, where for a time he was employed 
at liis trade. It took but three years to 
gratify his taste for the southwest and the 
family again returned to New \'ork, taking 
up their residence this time in Li\ingston 
county. There they lix'ed until August, 
1877, when he gave up his business of 
coopering, moved west to Wexford county, 
Michigan, located on a portion of section 
] I , Selma township, and became a farmer. 
There he has since lived, there his good and 
faithful wife died and there the evening of 
iiis life is being spent in that quiet content- 
ment and peace which he has so richly 
earned. 

The early life of George A. Reynolds 
was spent in a Quaker settlement. His 
parents were of that faith and in it he was 
Ijrought up. Though separated for many 
years from people of that faith he still ad- 
heres to a belief in the doctrines of -that 
sect. They have gnitled and directed him 
ibroughout his long life and ruled and. 
go\erned bis conduct in his dealing with his 
fellow men, with the result that be is honored, 
res])ected and beloved where\er be is 
known, for the gentleness of his nature and 
the rigid moral principles which govern bis 
life. Idiougb now in the eighty-sixth year 
of bis age. be is wunderfully well ])reservc(! 
and tlie mental and jiln-sical strength which 
be still possesses would do credit to a man 
twentv vears younger. No one who en- 
jiiys his acc[uaintance and who is frmiiliar 
with his good haliits and nnxlc i>i life dciubls 
that be will easily reach the century mark as 
the measure of his existence. Indeed at 



present there seems to be no reason apparent 
why it should not extend far bevond that 
time. 

♦-•-•^ 

JOHN J. NICHOLS. 

(_)ne (if the attractive features of the 
landscape in Cl.am Lake township is the well 
improved farm of John J. Nichols, located 
on section 19. Ibis is a fme farm, well 
equipped with all the accessories and con- 
veniences known to the model agricultural 
home of the twentieth century. The 
rich soil produces splendid crops and in the 
midst of the property stands a commodious 
and pleasant residence which is character- 
ized by an air of neatness and thrift and it 
is tastefully furn.isbed, making one of the 
comfortable homes of this section of the 
state. 

Mr. Nichols is a native of Ontario coun- 
ty, Canada, born on the 20th of September, 
1839. His parents were John and Sophia 
(DeBoyce) Nichols and the former died in 
Ontario county, Canada, when about thirty 
years of age. The mother afterwards came 
to Wexford county and died at the home of 
one of her sons in Clam Lake township in the 
eighty-second year of her age. She bad but 
two children, John J., of this review, and 
Isaac, who is a well-known and prominent 
agriculturist of Clam Lake township. 1 be 
former was reared to farm life in Canad.i 
and the experiences of his early boyhood 
were those which usually fall to the lot of 
farmer lads. He lived in his native coun- 
try until 1873. but the previous year had 
come to Wexford county, Michigan, and en- 
tered a claim coniprising eighty acres of 
land in section 30, Clam Lake townsbii). 



506 



WEXFORD COUNTV. MICIIIGAX. 



In Septemljer. 1873, '^^ returned with liis 
family to iNlichigan and located upun the 
honiestead wliich he liad secured. He has 
since been a resident of the townsliip and at 
l!ie time of his arri\al liere lie at once began 
the development of his eighty-acre tract, of 
which he still owns forty acres, win'le his 
l)rother, Isaac, is now the proprietor of the 
otiier forty acres. Air. Nichols of this re- 
\iew likewise has tliirt\-nine acres on sec- 
lion K) of the same township, so that his 
farm cimiiirises altogether seventy-nine acres, 
of which seventy acres have been conxerted 
into rich fields, from which he annually har- 
vests good crops. On the other nine acres 
stand his farm buildings. inclu<ling two good 
houses and sub>tantial b.arns and outbuild- 
ings. 

On the 15th of July. 1S73. John J. 
Nichols was married, in I.ambton county, 
Ontario, to Miss Sarah J. \'"an Natter, who 
was born in Haldeman ciuinty, Ontario, on 
the 21st of May, 1S4S. a daughter of 
James and Regina (. Miller | \'an Natter. 
Her parents spent their entire li\es in Can- 
ada and are now deceased. L'nto Mr. and 
Mrs. Nicht.ils lia\c been Ixirn two children; 
Regina ].. now the wife of William Anway. 
and Philena S., the wife of M. I-'. Shippy. 
Mr. Nichols takes an actixe part in church 
work and is an evangelist. He is deeply 
interested in the moral development oi the 
community and in tlie adoption of Christian 
])rinciples. but be is not a belie\-er in creeds 
or dogmas, being unsect.nrian in his re- 
ligious beliefs. He bases bis belief merel}' 
upon Bible teachings. ])referring to make his 
own interpretati(!ns of the scriptures rather 
than accepting something that lias been 
e\'(il\'ed bv religi<nis leaders in former ages. 

When Mr. Nichols and bis brother 



came to Wexford county in i^J^ this was 
still a frontier region, the work of progress 
and iniproN'ement being scarcely begun. 
They built a log house upon the homestead 
and there lived together for sixteen years, 
during which time four children were born 
to Isaac Nichols and two children to John 
Nichols. They were all rocked in one cra- 
dle, riie two families lived together as one, 
having a common pocketbook, sharing alike 
in everything. At length when thev de- 
cided to separate the division was m;ide in a 
manner entirely satisfactory to each. i'lie 
division was finally brougbt about because of 
an accident wbicb occurred to Isaac Nichols, 
wdio was bitten by a black S(|uirrel on the 
right band. Tliis caused l)lood poisoning 
and necessitated the amputation of the lit- 
tle finger. As tb.e years passed the brothers 
watched the development of the county and 
took an active ])art in its growth and im- 
provement. I)ee])ly interested in every- 
thing pretaining to public progress. John j. 
Nichols has labored effectively for the wel- 
fare of the count}- and for its intellectual 
and moral, as well as material advancement. 
He is a man of strong purpose, of marked 
indi\ iduality and keen intellectuality. He 
looks u]ion life from a broad humanitarian 
standpoint, realizing that this life is but a 
preparation for tiie life to come and that 
the ])re])ar;ition for ;i future existence is the 
Imilding of .-in upright character. 



\'ICTOR F. HUNTLEY, M. D. 

Professional success results from merit. 
I'^recinentiy in commercial life one may come 
into the possession of a lucrative business 
tiirough inheritance or gift, but in what arc 




VICTOR F. HUNTLEY. 



WEXFORD COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



507 



known as the learned professions advance- 
ment is grained onl_v through painstaking and 
long-continued effort. Prestige in tlie heal- 
ing art is tlie outcome of strong- mentahty, 
close application, thorough mastery of its 
great underlying principles and the ability 
to ajipl}- theory to practice in the treatment 
of diseases. G<Jod intellectual training, thor- 
ough professional knowledge and the posses- 
sion and utilization of the (|ualities and attri- 
butes essential to success have made the sub- 
ject of this re\iew eminent in bis chosen 
calling, and he stands today among the schol- 
arly and enterprising' physicians in a county 
noted for the big-h order of its professional 
talent. 

\iclnr V. Iluntley is a native of the okl 
I'jnpire state. ha\ing been born in Belmont, 
l^^ranklin count}-. Xew York, on the 6th of 
June. 1S54. He is descended from English 
ancestry, though his grandfather. Hiram 
Huntley, was born in Maine and died near 
Grand Rapids, Michigan, in 1893. at the age 
of eighty-eight years. Frederick M. Hunt- 
le)', the father of the subject, was a pattern- 
maker by trade, and, while residing in the 
state of Wisconsin, also followed the occu- 
pation of carpentering for a number of years. 
In 1863 he remox'ed to Michigan, accom- 
])anied by his family, and settled at Cirand 
l\a])ids. About the time of the outbreak 
of the C'i\il war be enlisted in C'onipan\- 1), 
b'irst Michigan luigineers. with which be 
ser\-ed luitil the close of the struggle. He 
])ro\-e(l a brave and gallant soldier and par- 
ticipated in much arduous service and at the 
close of his ser\ice he received an honorable 
discharge. At the completion of his mili- 
tarv serxicc be returned to his Michigan 
home and again resumed the pursuits of 
peace. He was the father of eight children. 



of whom six attained \'ears (jf malurit\-, the 
subject of this sketch being the eldest of the 
number. 

Victor V. Huntley received his rudimen- 
tary education in the city schools of Grand 
K'apids. and afterward sjjcnt one year in 
Albion Gollege. b'or a short time after leav- 
ing college he was employed at the trade of 
wood turning, and during the winter seasons 
was employed at teaching school. The science 
of medicine had early attracted his attention, 
and in 1874, finding a favorable opportunity, 
he went to Goshen, Indiana, where he read 
medicine under the preceptorship of Dr. 
William A. Whippy. In due time he matric- 
ulated in the Chicago Homeopathic Medical 
College, from which be was graduated in 
1 88 1, and the following year be entered upon 
the active practice of his profession at Jen- 
nings. Missaukee county. Michigan. After 
remaining there for some time, he becaiue 
convinced that a better field of labor existed 
for him in Wexford county, and consequent- 
ly, on the 1st of ^lay. 1886, he located at 
Manton, this county, where he has since 
remained actively eng'aged in the practice of 
the healing art. He has taken a keen and 
abiding interest in public affairs, and, under 
the administration of the late President Mc- 
Kinlev, he receixed the appointment of post- 
master at M.'uiton. discharging the duties 
of the oPiice to the entire satisfaction of all 
ihe jiatrons of the office. He was re-ap- 
pointed under President Rcjosevelt. and still 
holds office. He has also served as a mem- 
ber of the board of L'nited States pension 
examiners, having served as president of 
the board for two years. 

In 1S75 Dr. Huntley was united in mar- 
riage with Miss Harriet E. Castle, a nati\e 
of St. I .awrence countv, Xew ^drk. '{"bis 



508 



IVEXFQRD COUNTY. MICHIGAN. 



union lias l)t'cn a most happy and congenial 
one and has been blessed by the birth of two 
children, one that died in infancy, and Fred 
M., a physician, who graduated from the 
Chicago Homeopathic Medical College, and 
is practicing' his profession with the subject 
in Manton. He is a member of the Michi- 
gan .State Medical Society and fraternally is 
a member of the Free and Accepted Masons, 
having attained to the thirtv-secund degree. 
Mis political principles are in accord with 
those of the Republican party, and he takes 
an active part in local affairs, being a stanch 
supporter of all movements having for their 
object the promotion of the welfare of the 
community in which he lives. As evidence 
of this fact it is worthy of note that he was 
one of the numbers to whose untiring per- 
severance was due the installation of water 
works at Manton. 

.Mr. I Iunlle_\'s abilitv to trace the de\ious 
paths of disease throughout the human sys- 
tem and to remove its efifects is widely 
recognized and a mind well disciplined by 
se\ere ])rofcssional training, together with a 
natural aptitude for close investigation and 
critical research, have peculiarly fitted him 
for the noble calling in which he is engaged, 
and thus far his career has been all and more 
than his most sanguine friends predicted. 
He is a careful reader of the best professional 
literature, and keeps himself in close touch 
with the age in the latest discoveries pertain- 
nig to the healing art. The better to enable 
him to keep abreast the most modern meth- 
ods in the treatment of disease, he took a 
post-graduate course in the Chicago Homeo- 
pathic Medical College in i8go, in 1894, in 
1899, and ag'ain in 1901. Those (pialities 
of mind and heart that do not pertain to the 
mere knowledge of medical science, but 



greatly enhance the true worth of the family 
physician, are not wanting in him. He pos- 
sesses the tact and happy faculty of inspiring 
confidence on the part of his patients and 
their friends and in the sick room his genial 
presence and conscious ability to cope suc- 
cessfully with the diseases under treatment 
are factors that have contributed to the en- 
viable standing which he has attained. As 
evidence of the success which he has at- 
tained, he entered into partnership with Will- 
iams Brothers in November, 1902, in a gen- 
eral mercantile business, which is incorpor- 
ated and known as the Williams Mercantile 
Company, and he is now serving as presi- 
dent of said corporation. He is also an officer 
in the Manton Development Association, 
which has purchased a tract of wild land ad- 
joining the \illage, which has been 
surveyed and platted, and is now rapidly 
building up. 



WILLI. \M 11. CRAY. 

It is not ease but eft:'ort that makes the 
man. There is ])erhaps no station in life 
where difiiculties do not have to be encoun- 
tered and ol)stacIes overcome. Flvery vo- 
cation has in it certain elements or situations 
which might be characterized as disagreeable 
but which are counterbalanced, to some e.x- 
tent at least, by compensatory features. The 
subject of this sketch, William li. Gray, of 
section 28, Liberty township, has for years 
pursued two vocations. He is a tiller of 
the soil and the local minister in the church 
of the nisci|)les of Christ, lie is as much 
at homo in the jjulpil. in tiie nndsl of the 
members of his llock. as he is in the fields 
.Muiid his growing crop, lie has. doubtless. 



WEXFORD COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



509 



often realized in his tlual laljors the trutli 
of the assertion lliat it is not ease 1)ut etfnrt 
tliat makes the man. 

W'ilham H. Gray was born on his 
father's farm in Morgan county, Indiana, 
August 27, 1847, ^"ct 's the son of David W. 
and Ehzal)eth ( AlcCampbell ) Gra\-. Both 
]jarents died in Morgan county, Indiana, 
tlie father at the age of seventy-six years. 
They were the parents of tliirteen cliiUh^en, 
the sui)ject being one of the younger nieni- 
hers of the family. He was reareil at 
liome and recei\ed a common school educa- 
tiDU in the schools of the county of his 
liirtli. While attending school he aided in 
the farm work and later engaged in it as 
his regular vocation. 

In Tipton count)', Indiana, October 20, 
1870, William H. Gray was united in mar- 
riage to Miss Martha R. Wilcox, a native of 
Indiana, born in Tipton county, April 24, 
1853. She was a young lady noted for her 
religious fer\dr and Christian character. 
Her father was L'riah Wilcox, a veteran of 
the Ci\il war, while her mother's maiden 
name was Emaline Rriode. Of a fam- 
il_\' of seven children Mrs. Gray was 
the second, .\fter marriage the subject 
and his wife established themseh'es in 
a hiime in Morgan county, where they 
ciintinued to reside until the fall of 1875, 
when they moved to W'e.xford county, 
Michigiui, and located un a farm in section 
28, Liliertx' tnwnship, where the)' still re- 
side. He is the owner of sixty acres of land, 
thirty-fix'e of which is in a line state of cul- 
tivation and wel! im])roved. 1 hey are the 
parents of eight children, only three of 
whom are now li\ing, \iz. : Leona M.,- 
Xellie and .\rllnu" I'".. Lei ma is the wife of 
John [•'. Gardner. The ti\e i)ther children 
died carl\- in life. 



Though by no nieans acti\-e in politics 
and not a partisan, William H. Gray has been 
elected to and held at different times the of- 
rices of township treasurer and township 
clerk. He did not seek those positions, l)ut 
his neighbors n[ Liberty township, recog- 
nizing his worth as a citizen and his integ- 
rity as a man, placed him in nomination and 
elected him without dithculty. He is ac- 
tively interested in all matters which tend 
to promote the welfare of the community or 
improve the conditions of the locality. He 
is a pulilic-spiritetl man, interested alike in the 
material and spiritual good of his fellow 
creatures. Since 1887 he has lieen the resi- 
dent minister of the church of the Disciples 
of Christ, located at Haire, in Lil)erty tcjwn- 
ship. His ministerial labors in all those 
)ears have been productive of very satis- 
factory results. The congregation is devout 
and prosperous and has been for a long time 
steadil)' increasing in membership. Mr. 
(iray and his wife organized, June 9, 1876, 
the first Sunday school e\'er established in 
Liberty township. Both have labored nobly 
to keep alive the Christian spirit in the lo- 
cality and will doubtless receive a rich re- 
ward, if not i>n earth, certainlv in hea\en. 



THOMAS P. DLXiKE. 

The \er\- large per cent, of native Cana- 
dians which cnnslitules part of the [lopula- 
tion of the states Imrdering on the Canadian 
hue shows clearly that there have been some 
Canadians who were not willing to wait un- 
til Miss Canada sees tit to fling herself into 
the anus of L'ncle Sam. That that will be 
the ultimate destiny of Canada many on bcith 
sides of the bi>rder iirndv belie\e. indeed. 



610 



WEXFORD COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



llie location of so many Canadians on this 
side of iIk' line may hasten rather than re- 
tard the coming of the Canaihan hride. How- 
ever tliat may he. tliere is no donht what- 
ever lliat some of tlie very hest citizens of 
the state of Micliigan today are native Cana- 
(hans. One of them is tlie suhject of tliis 
review. Thomas i'. Denike, a resident of sec- 
tion 36, Boon townsliip, Wexford countv. 

Jn Hastings comity, Ontario. Canada. 
Angust 12, 1850. Thomas P. Denil<e first 
saw the Hght of day. His parents were An- 
thony and Elizahetli (Reed) Denike, both 
deceased when Mr. Denike was a small bov. 

On liis father's farm, in liis native coun- 
ty, lie was reared to manhood. 1 Ic was given 
a fair common scliool education and at the 
age of twenty-one years started out for him- 
self in life to make his way in tlie world. In 
J 87 1 he came to Michigan, secured employ- 
ment in the woods, logging and lumbering, 
wliicii business he followed for a nnmlier of 
years, when he secured more desirable em- 
ployment in llig ka])ids. In 1S75 he re- 
turned to ('anada and for the next few years 
('excited himself to farming. 

In Xorthuniberland county. Ontario. 
Canada. August 31. 1S79. Thomas P. T)en- 
ike was united in niariage to Miss Sophro- 
nia Maybee, a native of Ontario, Canada, 
born June 30. 1856. Her parents were Mi- 
nard and Rachel (.\llie) Maybee. natives of 
Canada and who died when Mrs. Denike was 
a little girl. She was educated in her native 
Country and is .1 lady ol most pleasing ad- 
dress. To TIkjuuis p. and Sophronia ( Mav- 
bee ) Denike five children ba\e been born, of 
whom one died in infancx'. 'The surviving 
four are: lierton V.., Salxer \'.. Alta E. and 
Elsie -A. All are possessed of good physi- 
cal and mental powers and give promise of 
making wortlu' citizens. 



Within a few weeks after their marriage 
in Canada Mr. and Mrs. Denike. in the au- 
tumn of 1879, came to \\ exfortl county, de- 
siring to establish here their permanent home. 
He purchased eighty acres of land. i)art of 
section 36, Boon township, on wliicii be 
erected a dwelling, which has been the home 
of the family from that time to the present. 
1 ater he purchased forty acres adjoining, 
which makes him a tidy little farm of one 
hundred and twenty acres, about fifty of 
w hich is cleared and under cultivation. Good, 
substantial buildings have been erected on 
the place, making it a most desirable home. 

The voters of Boon township seem to be 
possessed of a good deal of penetration and 
discernment, being able to recognize a ])er- 
son"s sjjecial fitness for official position, and 
the good sense to persist in keeping him 
there. Eifteen years ago they elected 
Thomas P. Denike to the position of school 
assessor and each successive election since 
has found lliem \ oting to retain him in that 
])lace. It is a tribute alike to the good judg- 
ment of the \dters and to the abilities of their 
school assessor. ]\Ir. and Mrs. Denike are 
true and consistent Christians, though IkjUI- 
ing no membership in :m\ denomination. 



101 1. \ R. II OGEE. 



Tf one desires to gain a vivid realiz.atiou 
of the rapid .advance in ci\ilization during 
the last few decades, he can listen to the 
stories of men who are still living and by 
no means burdened with the weight of years. 
who tell of their earl_\' experience, when the 
country was new aiul social conditions in 
this part of the state of Michigan were in 
their formative i)eriod. It is now a gener.'i- 




J. R. HOGUE. 



n'EXFORD COUNTY. iMlCHlGAN. 



511 



tion ago, 1870, since Jolm R. Hogue, tlie 
subject of this review, first took up his abode 
in Wexford county. The inhabitants of the 
count)- were then few in numljer, the farms 
mostly clearings, a large majority of the 
residences log structures, few roads of anv 
description, with a limited numl)er of schools 
and a nuich less number of churches. Con- 
trasted with the conditions which prevail 
liere at the present time, those days are in- 
deed well classified as primitive. 

John R. Hogue, of section 22, Colfax 
townshij), is a native of Pennsylvania, born 
in the township of Worth, Mercer comity, 
December 3, 1841. His parents were Will- 
iam and Sarah (Kyle) Hogue, natives the 
father of Ohio and the mother of Virginia, 
Both are now deceased. 

The first thirteen years of the life of 
John R. Hogue were spent in his native 
county. He attended school a few term*3 
during the winter months and was employed 
the remainder of tiie time upon the farm. In 
1854 the family moved to Berrien county, 
Michigan, and located in Pipestone town- 
ship. There the subject grew to manhood, 
completing a course of education in the com- 
mon schools. In August, 1862, he enlisted 
in Company B, Seventeenth Regiment Mich- 
igan Volunteer Infantry. At that particular 
time the cause of the Union was most des- 
perate, so, with \-ery little tim|e afforded for 
preparation, the regiment was ordered to the 
front. In less than a month after enlistment 
it participated in the l>attle of South Moun- 
tain, Maryland, September 13 and 14. i86j. 
and two days later took part in the Ijattle 
at Antietam. It was in the fight at Fred- 
ericksburg, Maryland, and saw ser\icc at 
Jackson. Mississippi, and participated in the 
seige of Knoxville, Tennessee. In e\erv 



one of the engagements in which the regi- 
ment took part the aggressive young sol- 
dier bore his part with honor. In the battle 
of the Wiklerness. Virginia, May 5 to 7, 
1864, and nearly all of the sanguinary en- 
counters of the time and of the locality he 
pla)-ed his part as became a true warrior. 
June 3, 1865, he received his tlischarge, after 
haxing served nearly three years, and being 
in the thick of the fight nearly all of the 
time. 

Returning to Berrien county, Michigan, 
immediately on quitting the service, he 
turned his attention to farming in Pipestone 
township for the next five years. In Berrien 
county, September 2, 1866, John R. Hogue 
was united in marriage to Miss Susan King, 
a native of England, born in July, 1848. 
who came to America with her parents while 
yet a child and resided the greater part of 
her life in the courity where she was married. 
The union was a ha])py one, and three chil- 
(h'en were born to bless it, \iz: Xora B.. 
Horace 11. and Puemma. Xora is the wife 
of William Sager; Horace is a joint owner 
in the farm with his father and assists in 
its cultivation, and Luemma brought joy to 
the home for the brief period of eighteen 
months only, when death called her to a 
better world. Mrs. Hogue died at the family 
home m Colfax township, Wexford county, 
after the family located here, and Mr. 
Hogue was again marired, his bride t>n this 
occasion being Mrs. Plelen Watson, widow 
of the late Charles Watson, and daughter of 
Mr. and Mrs. Eastwood. Her death oc- 
curred in Selma township. Mr. Hogue's 
son, Horace by name, was born .Vovember 
23, 186S, and on May i<;. 1891. was united 
in marriage to Miss Addie Jordan, of Cad- 
illac, and to this union two children have 



612 



WEXFORD COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



been born, namely : \'ena. aged eleven 
years, and Lyle, aged nine. 

In November, 1870, tlie family moved to 
Wexford county, where Mr. Hogue had 
taken up a homestead on a part of section 
22, Colfax township. On this i)lace he has 
erected a comf<jrtal)le residence and all other 
necessary farm buildings. He and his son 
Horace together own one hundred and twen- 
ty acres, about eigiity of which is cleared, 
improved and under cultivation, the other 
forty acres being in timber. It is a nice, pro- 
ductive farm, from wliich the owners and 
managers derive a very comfortable income. 

The education of the young has always 
been a matter of much concern and interest 
to Mr. Hogue. Though by no means a man 
greatly lacking in knowledge, he feels that 
he could have accomplished much more in 
life had die received the benefit of a better 
education. Knowing his zeal in this particu- 
lar, the voters of the townshi]). years ago. 
placed him on the school Ixiard and have 
kept him almost constantly in one or the 
other positions on the school board ever 
since. He also served the people of the town- 
•ship in the posititJU of treasurer, justice of 
peace, board of review, school inspector and 
highway commissioner. In jjolitics he is a 
stanch Republican. There are few people 
of his age now li\ing who have crowded 
more real good, earnest labor and more gen- 
uine usefulness into the \ears of their lives 
than has lohn R. Hogue. 



EDWARD MORC.V.X. M. D. 

Dr. Edward Morgan has the distinction 
of being the onl_\ soldier who enlisted from 
W'exford county for service in the Civil war 



and he is one of the oldest physicians in years 
of connection with the profession in this part 
of the state. He now makes his home in 
.\lanton. where he has a large patronage 
tliat is indicative of his skill and comprehen- 
sive learning in connection with the science 
of medicine. 

The Doctor was l)orn on a farm in 
Steuben county. Xew York. July 2, 1S4T. 
His father. Reuben Morgan, was a carpen- 
ter and farmer, following the two pursuits 
throughout his business career. He mar- 
ried Miss Clarissa ^lanhart, and they l)e- 
came the parents of eleven children, of w horn 
the Doctor was the fourth in order of 
birth. The father died in Howard, Steuben 
county, Xew York, when about sixtv-se\en 
years of age, and his widow. siir\i\ing him 
for some time, dictl in lunmet count}'. Michi- 
gan, in her se\enty-sixth year. 

In the county of his nativity Dr. Mor- 
gan was reared and was li\ing there at the 
time of his first eidistment for service in the 
Civil war. In May. 1861, he jt)ine(l Com- 
pany (i, Twenty-thiril Xew York Volunteer 
Infantry, with which he was connected for 
two years. He was then discharged with 
the regiment at the expiration of the term 
of enlistment in May. 18O3. In June fol- 
lowing the Doctor arri\ed in what is now 
Wexford county, and secured a homestead 
ill \\'exford townshii). comprising one hun- 
dred and sixty acres of wild land, on which 
he settled. To its development and im- 
jirovement he devoted his energies until 
October, 1864, when, feeling that his first 
duty was to his country, still in the throes 
of civil strife, he rejoined the army, this 
time as a member of ( om]iany ^\. Tenth 
Michigan Cavalry, witlt which he ser\ed un- 
til Mav, i86t, when, the war luuiiig closed. 



JVEXFORD COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



513 



lie returneil to his home with a most cred- 
itable mihtarv reconl. He was the only 
man who enlisted from Wexford county, 
which was then largely unsettled, and he was 
always fonnd at his post of duty, whether in 
the thickest of the tight or on the lonely pick- 
et line. At Strawberry 1 Mains, 1\'nnessee, his 
horse was shot from under liini and on that 
occasi(3n he was so injured that he was un- 
able to again take up the acti\e work of the 
farm and accordingly he dispdsed nf his 
homestead. 

The Doctor then entered upon the study 
of medicine in Steuben county. New York, 
and after pursuing a course of lectures in 
the Bellevue Hospital Medical College he 
began practice in \\'exford and Kalkaska 
counties. Michigan, Cdntimiing his jirofes- 
sional labors in this state until 1884, when 
he began practice in Florida and also be- 
came a student in the State University there. 
Upon his return to the nortii he settled in 
Manton, where he practiced successfully un- 
til 1889, when he went to the territory of 
Oklahoma and secured a homestead. In 
connection with the reclamation of the wild 
land for the purposes of civilization, he also 
])racticed medicine in Guthrie and vicinity 
for two and a half vears, and at the end of 
that time he sold his homestead and returned 
to Manton. where he has since remained, en- 
gaged in the practice of his profession and 
easily maintaining a foremost position in the 
ranks of the medical fraternity of this sec- 
tion of the state. He practiced in Kalkaska 
county for seven years and also in Cadillac 
for two years, but, with the exception of 
these periods and the time spent in Okla- 
homa, throughout his professional career he 
has remained in Wexford county, where he 
located as the first physician wiUiin its bor- 



ders. He belongs to the State Eclectic Med- 
ical Society and is a man of broad informa- 
tion who studies and thinks deeply and who 
shows marked skill in coping with the in- 
tricate problems which continually confront 
the physician in his efforts to restore health 
;ind prolong life. 

in Kalkaska, Michigan, Dr. Morgan was 
united in marriage to Mrs. Eliza (Overhiser) 
Shults. a daughter of William and Hannah 
(Collier) Overhiser. She was born in Steu- 
ben county. Xew York. August 14, 1849, 
1 and was brought to Michigan in pioneer 
limes, her father being one of the oldest set- 
tlers of Cedar Creek township. He arriyed 
in Wexford county about 1870 and took up 
liis abode on a tract of land in the township, 
and since that time he has been an interested 
and helpful witness of the progress and im- 
provement which has been made iu his lo- 
cality. His wife died in Steuben cotmty, 
Xew York, in November, 1861, when about 
thirty-five years of age, leaving two children, 
of whom Mrs. Morgan is the elder. Unto 
the Doctor and his wife have been born two 
children. Mildred M., the wife of Edward 
Carroll, and William D. 

Dr. Morgan is a member of O. P. Rbir- 
lon Post No. 54. Grand Army of the Repub- 
lic, and is serving as its commander. He 
also has membership relations with the In- 
dependent Order of Odd Fellows antl his 
wife is president of the \\'oman's Relief 
Corps, the auxiliary of Morton Post. She 
is also an active and consistent member of 
the Methodist Episcopal church. They have 
an attractive home in Manton and the Doctor 
also owns eighty-five acres of land, of which 
fifty acres is under cultivation. He has long 
l;ikcn an active interest in politics as a suj)- 
porter of the Re]niblican party and while re- 



514 



WEXFORD COUNTY. MICHIGAN. 



siding in Kalkaska county he served as coun- 
ty j)liysician tor seven years. He is now 
l)liysician for tlie four townships of Colfax. 
Cedar Creek, Liherty and Greenwood in 
Wexford county, and in addition to this has 
a large i)ri\ate practice, wliich indicates tlie 
nature of liis professional labors and the 
confidence and trust reposed in hini by the 
jjublic. 



RA.SMUS P. BRKDAIIL. 

In mentioning those of foreign birth who 
lia\e become prominent in their different 
callings in W'exfonl county, Michigan, the 
r.ame of Rasmus P. Bredahl. of Liberty 
township, the subject of this review, should 
n.ot be omitted. He is one who has fully 
I'ornc out the reputation of that class of in- 
tlustrious. energetic and far-seeing men 
whose birth is credited to other shores, but 
who have risen to prominence here in the 
land of their ado])tion. 

Rasmus P. Bredahl. a resident of section 
29, Liberty township, was born in Denmark. 
Xovember 13. 1851. The first fifteen years 
of his life were spent in his native land, af- 
ter w hich he wciU into Germany and devoted 
his lime up to 1872. when he attained his 
uiajurity, working on the farms of his em- 
l)loyers as a lal)orer. Having earned and 
saved enough money to justify him in mak- 
ing the venture, in 1872 he embarked for 
/\merica. coming direct to Cadillac, then 
known as Clam Lake. Ijy way of Xew York. 
He had no difficulty in finding employment 
as almost immediately on locating in \\^ex- 
ford county he uas employed by the Grand 
Rapids & Indiana Railroad Company, first 
on repairs and construction and later as 



section foreman. He remained in the em- 
ploy of the railroad company until January. 
1877. when he moved on his farm of one 
hundred and cwenty acres, which he had 
purchased in 1874, and has since devoted his 
energies to cultivating and improving his 
land. This farm is located in section 29, 
Liberty township. He is the owner of sev- 
eral other pieces of land, one of them being 
in section 9. same township, upon which is a 
comfortable residence. Since 1876 he has 
transferred his residence a number of times 
from one to the other of these tracts, but has 
continuously resided on the farm in section 
29 since 1883. One year of this time was 
spent in California, where he went for the 
purpose of examining conditions there, but 
he did not find them so promising as painted 
and was not tempted to change his residence 
to that commonwealth. _M1 of his time has 
been devoted to farming since he resigned 
his position on tiie railroad in 1877. He is 
the ownier of two hundred and fifty acres of 
land in Liberty township, about sixty acres 
of which are cleared, well improved and sup- 
plied with suitable and substantial buildings. 

At Cadillac, May 2^. 1881, Rasmus P. 
Bredahl was united in marriage to Miss Mar- 
tha C. Anderson, a native of Sweden, burn 
December 18. 1847. To this union four 
chiklren were born, two of whom died in in- 
fancy. Those living are brands E. and 
Julius A. 

On becoming a citizen of the Cnited 
States and of the state of Michigan. 
Rasmus P. Bredahl allied himself with the 
Repulilican party and the lapse of time has 
c^nlv served to convince him of the wisdom 
of his choice. His ])arty, tof), has appre- 
ciated his services and shown its ajjpreciation 
bv electing him to \arious offices in Libert v 



V/EXFORD COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



515 



township. He has served as township super- 
xisor, treasurer, highway commissioner, 
justice of tlic pe;ice. school trustee and town- 
sliip clerk. In all the affairs of the township 
he is acti\e and lii^ nciyhliors defer to his 
opinion when local matters of ]iublic interest 
are under consideration. He and his wife 
:n'e b(jth religiously inclined!, but do not lie- 
long to the same religious denomination, 
lie is a memljer of the Church of Christ, 
while she worships at tiie Swedish Lutheran 
church. They are worthy, industrious peo- 
jile. w hose labors as producers are constantly 
adding to their own cUid the country's wealth. 



GEORGE A. FREDERICK. 

George A. l-'rederick is the (n\ner and 
(iperator of a farm ot one hundred and sixty 
acres on section jO, Wexford township, of 
which one hundred acres is under a high 
state of culti\-ation. .\ nati\e of Ohio, his 
birth occurred in Medina county, on the 15th 
of April, t86o, and he is the fifth in order of 
birth in a family of eleven children, whose 
]'arents were John B. and Helen L. (Seas) 
I'd'ederick. During the boyhood of the sub- 
ject thev renioxed to St. Jose])h county, 
Alichigan, and in the s]>ring of 1896 thev 
came to W'e.xford county, taking up their 
abode in W'exford township, where the father 
passed away on the 19th of February, 1901, 
in the seventy-seventh year of his age. 

George A. Frederick was a little lad of 
tjuly four summers at the time of his parents' 
removal to this state and u|)ou the home 
farm in Leouidas townsbij). St. Joseph coun- 
ty, he was reared until he bad attained his 
nuijority. The public schools afforded him 



his educational pri\-ileges and when not en- 
gaged with the duties of the school-room he 
largely de\'oted his time and energies to as- 
sisting in the cultixation of the fields or in 
the care of the stock upon the home place. 
He arrived in Wexford county in 1X84 and 
for lour )ears w;is identified with its intellec- 
tual de\-elopment as a school teacher. At 
the end of that time he went to the west and 
for about three years was absent from Michi- 
gan. He then returned to St. Joseph county. 
where he carried on educational work and 
also followed the carpenter's trade, making 
his home there until 1896. In that year he 
once more came to Wexford count}- and set- 
tled upon the farm on which he is now liv- 
ing on section 25. W'exford township. Here 
he has a (|uarter secti(.)n of the rich land of 
Michigan and of this (ine hundretl acres are 
under cultivation. It is a rich, productive 
soil and \ ields to him good returns for his 
lalxirs. Mr. b'rederick is practical in all that 
he does and this quality manifested in his 
business career has resulted in bringing to 
him a comfortable competence, making him 
one of the substantial citizens of his com- 
munity. 

On Christmas day of 1900, in St. Joseph 
county, was celebrated the marriage of ^Ir. 
Frederick and Mrs. Katie A. HufT, the 
widow- of Waller H. Huff and a daughter of 
William and Rebecca ( Leister ) Lighthiser. 
ATrs. Frederick was born in Tuscarawas 
county, Ohio, on the 19th of October, 1871, 
and In- her nrst marriage hail one son. Leo 
W. Huff. Both the subject and his wife are 
well known in W'exford count)' and have 
g.iincd the favorable regard of many with 
whom thev have come in contact, tiieir cir- 
cle being constantly increased as the circle 
of their ac(|uaiiitance is extended. Mr. 



516 



WEXFORD COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



Frederick is a man of broad mind and keeps 
well informed on all the questions of the day, 
political and otherwise. In matters pertain- 
ing to agricnlture he is progressive and his 
farm indicates his careful supervisit)n. be- 
ing neat and thrifty in appearance. Politi- 
cally he sn])ports the platform and nominees 
of the Democratic parly, while fraternally he 
is afliliated with Lodge Xo. 212. Knights of 
Pythias, at Sherman, of which he was the 
first chancellor commander. He is also a 
member of Lodge Xo. 372. I-^ee and Acce])t- 
ed Masons, at Sherman, and. with his wife 
belongs to the Sherman chapter nf the East- 
ern Star. 



LEML'EL A. TIBBITS. 

Each calling or business, if honorable, 
lias its place in human existence, conslituting 
a ])art of the ])lan whereljy life's methods arc 
jiursued and man reaches his ultimate desti- 
ny. Emerson said. ".Ml are needed bv each 
one." That is as true in one avenue of life's 
acti\ities as in another. However, the im- 
portance of a business or profession is in a 
very large measure detennined by its useful- 
ness and the benefits it bestows on humanity. 
The career of the suljject of this review. 
Lemuel A. Tibbits, of Selma township, has 
certainly been a useful one and the record of 
its achievements pro\es very conclusi\ely the 
inestimable benefits he has bestowed on hu- 
manity by his labors in the school room and 
in the education of the yoimg. 

Lenniel .\. Tibbits was born in the cil\' 
of Rochester. Xew ^'ork. August 2.\. 1838. 
He was reared in bis nalixe cily and there 
the greater part of his education was secured 
in De Grasse Military and Collegiate Insti- 



tute at Rochester. In 1874. when but si.x- 
leen years of age. he came to Michigan and 
secured emi)loyment on a farm in W'aslite- 
naw county. For seven years he worked as 
;< farm hand, arranging his afTairs so that he 
was enal)led to attend school two terms. That 
he profited well iiy those two terms at school 
is shown by the fact that they qualified him 
for entering the school room as a teacher. 
In 1881 he came to \\ exford county, secur- 
ed a district school to teach and has since 
engaged continuously in that honorable vo- 
cation. Xo other teacher of W exford coun- 
ty has so long continuously engaged in the 
calling in that count\-, and tliere are very 
few teachers in northern Michigan who 
have been engaged in the business, as he has 
been, in one county for twenty-two years. 
Fifteen of tiiose terms were emploved in 
one district, Xd. 3. In J 883 he had accumu- 
lated sufficient from his savings to purchase 
forty acres of huul in section 2. Selma town- 
ship, where he established a home antl where 
he has since resided. .\t present the land is 
nearly all cleared, well cultivated and im- 
|)roved with good, substantial buildings and 
other necessary appurtenances. Sejjt ember 
1. 1886. Lenniel A. Tibbits was united in 
marriage to Miss Frances M P)eckwith, 
whose parents were among the early settlers 
of Wexford county. Xathan Beckwith is 
still living, while his g<M)d wife passed to her 
eternal rest February 22. 1902. Lemuel \. 
and Frances E. Tibbits in the goodness of 
their hearts have adopted a little girl, by 
name Jessie M., an intelligent, winsome little 
lady, now attending school. 

In all educational matters the subject of 
this article is very much interested. b^or 
si.x years he has served a.> count\' school ex- 
aminer, a position through which the stand- 



WEXFORD COUNTY. MICHIGAN. 



517 



ard of education in a county may be easily 
lowered or raisetl. During the years of his 
administration of tiie office it is generally 
conceded that the educational interests of the 
ctmnty were never better attended U\ and to 
his influence and wiseh' directed labors much 
cif it is due. He has served as township 
clerk, township tre;isurer and he has been 
commissioneil h\ the governor of the slate 
a notary public. He is a member of the 
Pleasant Lake (.range and (juite acti\"e in 
the affairs of the order. At present he is 
the lecturer of the local grange and also of 
the Wexford County Grange. Beginning 
life with practically nothing, thrown upon 
his own resources in a strange common- 
wealth at the early age of sixteen years, de- 
licient in education, through the industrv. in- 
tegritv and the many other noble qualities 
of wliich he is possessed, he has surmounted 
every obstacle and is now recognized as one 
of the most progressi\e. public-spirited citi- 
zens of Wexford county. Others may have 
more to show iri the way of material wealth 
accumulated in the same length of time, but 
certainly there are very few who have be- 
stowed as many blessings upon the communi- 
ty as he has. His labors in the school room 
alone are worth more to the country and to 
humanity than tlie entire lilework of manv 
another man. 



THOMAS .\. GORLETT. II. D. 

The practice of medicine and surgery is 
one of the most exacting professions in which 
a person can engage. It is alike trying u))on 
the i)hysicial and upon the mental powers. 
Physical strength and vigor are as necessary 



in it as is the mental ability which must be 
possessed by him who would succeed. I )r. 
Thomas A. Corlett. the subject of this biog- 
raphy, is a ])hysician and surgeon now en- 
gaged in the acti\e practice of his profession 
at Manton. Cedar Creek township, lie is 
possessed of all the essential (lualihc.ations 
of a successful pliysician and surgeon. That 
he is ra])idly winning success is well attested 
by the large and steadily increasing practice 
for which he is at present caring. 

Dr. Thomas A. Corlett was born in the 
county of Grey, province of Ontario, Canada 
August 7. 1863. His parents were John and 
Elenore J. (McKinzie) Corlett, native the 
former of Scotland and the latter of Canada. 
He is a prosperous farmer of Bendick town- 
ship. Grey county. Twelve children were 
born to '\h\ and Mrs. Corlett. of whom the 
subject of this review is the third. On the 
tarm where he was born the suljject was 
reared and recei\ed a \ery thorough knowl- 
edge of all the elementary branches of learn- 
ing. Thereafter he took a course at the 
Owen Sound Collegiate Institute. He at- 
tended the Toronto University Medical 
School three years and graduated from the 
Detroit School of Medicine in the class of 
189 J. He was at home until Februar\\ 1893. 
when he locatetl in Manton for the purpo.se 
of engaging in the practice of his profession. 
F"or the past ten years he has been a resident 
of Manton and actively engaged in the prac- 
tice. 

August 31. 1897. at Cadillac. [Michigan. 
Dr. Thomas .\. Corlett was united in mar- 
riage to ]\Iiss Maiv E. Stimson. a native of 
riint. Michigan, her parents being now de- 
ceased. One child has been born I0 Dr. 
and Mrs. Corlett, whom they have named 
Donald Alexander. He is an interesting 



518 



WEXFORD COUNTY. MICHIGAN. 



child, blessed witli a vigorous constitution, 
whicli gi\cs fair |)n.)niisc of niaiving for liim 
a long and useful career. 

Dr. C'orlett is a m.m of genial disposi- 
tion, aft'ahle and (juite companionable. He 
is a man who.se sympathies are easil\- aroused 
and will I ever responds with alacritv to the 
call from the siifTering. whether it be beneath 
the humble roof of the cottager ur within the 
palatial home of wealth. The duties of his 
profession bring him in contrict with a 
large number of his fellow citizens of \\"e\-- 
lord county. Still compar.itivelv voung in 
_\cars and in his profession, he has all the 
reipu'site ability to rise to eminence in his 
chosen profession and his many friends be- 
lieve that he is very certain to do so. 



DR. now \R|) S, KXb:i-:j.AXD. 

1 he subject of this review is a substantial 
and highly esteemed citizen of Cadillac, who 
.«ince the year 1900 has been following the 
profession of dental surgery with a con- 
stantly increasing popularity, being noU- in 
the enjoyment of an e.\tensi\e and lucrative 
])ractice which has earned for him a reputa- 
tion much more than local. With intelli- 
gence and energy that have scr\ed liim well 
and made him a constant student and seekei 
after knowledge, he has .steadily advanced in 
the line of his calling, until he now occupies 
a place in the front r;uii< of his comjieers. 
with the assurance of a future of continued 
professional and financial success. 

Dr. Howard S. Kneeland was born June 
Q. iS'''.S. ill Ionia county. Michigan, and there 
spent his early life aiuid the \aricd duties 
of the farm, his father. |ohn K. Kneeland. 



having been an industrious and jjrosperous 
tiller of the soil. The maiden name of the 
Doctor's mother was Amanda M. DeLong. 
These parents, in 1876. moved to W'e.xford 
county and settled on a homestead in section 
I. Selnia township, which the father, with 
such assistance as his son could render, 
cleared and converted into a good farm. 
There the family li\ed .sonie eighteen or 
twenty years, at the expiration of which time 
the elder Kneeland retired from active life 
and took up his residence in Cadillac, where 
he spent the remainder of his days, dving 
.\ugust 17. 1897, at the age of seventy-eight 
years. Of the children born to John K. and 
Amanda Kneeland, the Doctor is the only 
survivor. He was about thirteen years old 
when the family came to \\'exford countv. 
and in the clearing and developing of the 
larm and its subseipient cultivation he in- 
j dustriously and worthily bore his ]>art. .\ 
naturally studious nature, combined with a 
I laudable ambition to accpure an education, 
led him to take advantage of every oppor- 
tunity in this direction and, with the assist- 
ance of his father, who was an old-time 
school teacher, he made commendable prog- 
ress in his studies, completing the common 
school cour.se besides obtaining a fair knowl- 
edge of the higher branches. By de\-oting 
his leisure time to reading he became widely 
and thoroughly informed and while still un- 
der the parental roof his intelligence and 
good judgment cau.sed him to be chosen to 
several official position^;, in all of which his 
record was that of a cajiable and faithful 
])ublic servant. He served as treasurer of 
.Selma township with credit to himself and 
to the satisfaction of the peojile. also held 
the oflice of justice of the jjcacc for se\cr;d 
years, and as school inspector did much to 




HOWARD S. KNEELAND. 



IVEXFORD COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



519 



])romote the cause of popular eilucation in 
liis jurisdiction. In the year 1888 Mr. Knee- 
land was appointed deputy county clerk and 
reg'ister of deeds, under S. J. Wall, which 
position he held two years, resigning at the 
expiration of that time to become bookkeeper 
for the Cummer lumber firms, a post of 
greater responsibility than the formier, but 
commanding a much better salary. Not 
content always to remain an employee, sub- 
ject to tiie will of others, he early decided 
to prepare himself for some specific life work, 
accordingly, while discharging his duties in 
the clerk's otiice, he t()(.)k up the study of 
dentistry, to which he devoted his leisure 
hours under the direction of Dr. H. V. 
Ward, of Cadillac. Later, during his ten 
years with the Cummer Company, he fur- 
ther prosecuted his studies and investiga- 
tions under Dr. G. M. I'rown. and so closely 
and unceasingly did he apply himself that 
he was one of the \ery few to pass success- 
fully the rigid examination of the state board 
of dental examiners. 

Receix'ing a license from this body in 
October, 1900, Dr. Kneeland immediateh' 
opened an office in Cadillac and in due time 
built up a lucrative practice, which has stead- 
ily increased with each recurring year. His 
suite of parlors are finely furnished, his la- 
boratory is supplied with all the latest mod- 
ern appliances used in the profession and he 
is thorouglil)" ])rc])ared to do all kinds of 
work in his line with neatness and despatch 
and according to the most a])pro\cd scientific 
methods. 'J'he Doctor's continued profess- 
ional success is his best advertising medium 
and he depends upon this alone to bring him 
to the notice of the public. He is well known 
throughout this section of the state as a 
skillful and finished operator and accom- 



plished artisan, and his services have been 
in such demand that financial as well as pro- 
fessional success has attended him most liber- 
ally, he lieing now the possessor of a hand- 
some competence, the result of close atten- 
tion to his duties. 

.As a private citizen no less than in his 
professional capacity, the Doctor makes his 
intluence for good felt in the community. He 
is highly esteemed by all who know hinx, is 
a kind neighbor, a genial companion and his 
domestic life is one of refinement and taste. 
He was married in Cadillac b'ebruary 14, 
189,^, to Miss Marguerite M. Baroux, the 
daughter of Adrian Coroux, of Montague. 
Michigan, the union being lilessed with three 
children, namely : Glaclvs M., Gaylor L. and 
Minnie M. Doctor Kneeland is prominent 
in the social and benevolent circles of Cad- 
illac, belonging to several fraternal organi- 
zations, notably among which are Lodge 46, 
Knights of Pythias, Lodge No. 680, Benevo- 
lent and Protective Order of Elks, the 
Knigli!s of the Royal Guard, the Modem 
Woodmen of America and the Knights of 
the Maccabees. He stands for progress and 
improvement, lends his influence to all 
worthy objects and his self poise, earnest- 
ness of purpose, directness of thought and 
action and commendable public spirit ha\e 
Willi for him a high rank among the repre- 
sentative citizens of Cadillac and Wexford 
countx". 



A.VDRIAV JOHNSON. 

Wexford county owes not a little of its 
dex'elopmenl and business acti\it_\' to its citi- 
zens of Swedish bu'th or descent. The king- 
dom in the northern peninsula of Runjpe has 



520 



WEXFORD COUNTY. MICHIGAN. 



sent many lepresentalives tu the new \\<jiiil. 
where they lia\e taken advantages of busi- 
ness opportunities, have adapted tlteniselves 
lo altered conditions and lia\c by tlie exer- 
cise of care, perseverance and ihligence won 
for themselves good homes and pru\ided 
comfortably for their families. Mr. John- 
son, a native of Swetlen. was born on the 
28th of October, 1837, and the years of his 
childhood, youth and early manhood were 
there passed. He attended its schools and 
also performed considerable work in his 
youth, which resulted in habits of industry 
and persistency of purpose. The year 1871 
witnessed the severance of the ties which 
bound Mr. Johnson to his native land. The 
business possibilities of the new world at- 
tracted him and, crossing the briny deep, he 
took up his abode in Wexford county. Michi- 
gan, on the farm where he now lives and 
which has been his home continuously 
through twenty-two consecutive years. Dur- 
ing this period he has erected good farm 
buildings, including substantial barns for 
the shelter of grain and stock. He has also 
built a good residence, and his attention has 
been gi\en in undivided manner to the im- 
provement nf his eighty acres nf land, of 
which fifty acres is under cultisatiim at the 
jjresent time. 

In \\'e\t\)rd counlv Mr. JnhnsdU was 
united in ni;n"riage to Miss .\nn;i .Magnussun. 
;i native of Sweden, and they now have an 
interesting famii\ of six children, as follows : 
I'Vank. T'.mil J.. Ida M., Aniand.i C. Min- 
nie and .\gnes K. 

Such in brief is the life record of Mr. 
Johnson, lie has lived for almost ;i third 
of ;i century in Wexford county and. while 
there have l)cen no exciting chapters in his 
life history, it is that of a man who is loyal 



in citizenship, trustworthy in business and 
faithful in friendshij). and these are the 
qualities w hich are tleemed of worth in e\er\- 
land and clime. He has labored untir- 
inglv here in order to gain a gO(Kl home for 
himself and family and has found good 
business o|)portunities in this country where 
eiTort is unhampered by caste or cla>s. 



JOSEPH McCAXE. 



In this world there is one kind of man 
who can successfully combat the many dis- 
advantages and trials which humanity en- 
counters in every walk of life. It is he who 
is possessed of superior intelligence and 
force of character : the man who is the happy 
possessor of that energy which seems to be 
the magic wand that transforms a poor be- 
ginning into a successful ending. To tliis 
class belongs the subject of this re\iew. Jo- 
seph McCane. who began life with little and 
accomplished much more than many whose 
opportunities were far better. 

Joseph McCane is a native of Scotland, 
born abotit thirty miles from Edinburg, Sej)- 
lember 4, 1831. His parents were William 
and Mary ( Hoilgins) McCane. tlie father a 
native of Scotland and the mother of lui- 
gland. They migrated to .\merica in \H^(t 
and settled in Saginaw, Michigan, the same 
year. There the mother still resides. Her 
husband died in 1888. while on a visit to 
his son Joseph, in Wexford count\-. at the 
i<ge of seventy-six years. They were the 
]>ai"ents of twelve children, of whom Joseph, 
the subject, was the fourth. 

The year of his arrival in .\merica Jo- 
seph McCane was five years okl. I''rom tliat 



ll'EXFGRD COUNTY. MICHIGAN. 



521 



time until he Dljtaiued Iiis majority he made 
his home witli liis parents in Saginaw. He 
learned the trade of a stone and brick mason, 
became quite skillful and worked at the busi- 
ness many years after he was twenty-one 
years old. In many of the towns and cities 
of Micliigan may be seen samples of his work 
in the buildings erected since 1873. 

At Loomis, Clare county. Michigan. 
-Vugust 6. 1874, Joseph McCane was united 
in marriage to Miss Elizabeth Cornelius, a 
native of the state of New York, born in 
Steuben county, June 30, 1855. She is the 
daughter of Ira and Catharine ( Castle) Cor- 
nelius, both now deceased. 'i"o this union 
six children were born, viz; Mary E. is the 
wife of John Bolton, a native of Ottawa. 
Canada, and a farmer and lumberman, and 
they had two children, Do\-is, aged three 
years, and Leiand, who died at the age of 
two months; William \\'., of Liberty town- 
ship, who wedded Mabel Cilbert, of Ionia 
county ; George, Eva, Earl and Harrold. 
Iri August, 1877. the family, then consist- 
ing of the ]3arents and two children, mo\-ed 
to Wexford county, and settled on a ]iart of 
section 29, Liberty townshi]). where thev 
ha\e since resided and where the four voung- 
er children of the family have been born. 
The farm upon which they reside and which 
they own consists of forty-two and a half 
acres, all cleared, splendidK' culti\ated ano 
su])plied with e\'ery conxenieiicc in the way 
of buildings. .\ nuniljer of acres was set 
apart some time ago for an orchard, in which 
a large number of fruit trees were planted. 
They are thrift\-. well cared for and will soon 
be bearing abundance of fruit. The family 
occupies a home that for ha]>piness, thrift 
and comfort, is not excelled in the county. 

The principles and policies of the Repub- 



lican party early won the fa\-or of Joseph 
McCane and his zeal for party success won 
the fa\t)r of the Republicans of his township 
and they insisted on his acceptance of such 
positions as they had at their disposal. He 
has filled the positions of assessor, school in- 
spector and has been deputy sheriff for that 
township since 1882, more than twenty-one 
years. The Christian church, whose mem- 
bers are known as the Disciples of Christ, is 
the church of which Mr. and Mrs. McCane 
are members. They are regular attendants 
upon its services. The only fraternal society 
to which he belongs is the Independent Order 
of Odd Fellows, his membership being in 
Manton I-odge. Like many of the inhabi- 
tants of his nati\e land, he is possessed of 
good judgment and excellent sense. To the 
energy he displays in all that he undertakes 
and to the force of character for which he 
is distinguished he is indebted for the success 
which has attended the work of his life. 



CHARLES J. BECHTEL. 

It is generally considered by those in the 
habit of superficial thinking that the history 
of so-called great men only is worthy of pres- 
ervation and that little merit exists among 
the masses to call forth the praise of the 
historian or the cheers and the appreciation 
of mankind. .\ greater mistake w.as never 
made. Xo man is great in ;ill things and 
\ery few are great in many things. I\Iany 
by a lucky stroke achieve lasting fame, who 
before that h;id no reputation beyond the 
limits of their immediate neighborhoods. Ii 
is not a history of the lucky stroke which 
benefits humanity most, but the long study 
and effort which made the lucky stroke pos- 



522 



WEXFORD COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



bible. It is tlie preliminary wcjrk. the meth- 
od, that serves as a guide fur the success of 
others. Among those in tiiis ountx- who 
have achieved success along siead\ lines of 
action is the subject of this biief review. 
Charles j. IJechtel. of AlaiUon. Wexford 
county. 

-Mr. liechtel was born in Dumfries, On- 
tari,,. Canada. July X. i,S3S, and is the son 
of l-.pbraim an.l Laroline (Schumacher) 
Bechtel. His father was also a native of 
Canada, and is a carpenter by trade, while 
his mother is a native of Germany. The par- 
ents came to .Missaukee county. Michigan. 
in iSjj, and settled in Caldwell township, 
where they still reside. They reared a fam- 
ily of eight children, of whom the subject is 
Ihe eldest. Charles Bechtel w;.s but two 
years old when brought to the L nited States 
l>y his parents, who at Hrst located in Kent 
county. Michig.an. and later accompanied 
iheni to their new home in Missaukee county, j 
lie was given the benefit of a fair common I 
school education and remained under the 
parental roof until he was twenty-two years 
old. He then engaged in the lumber busi- I 
ness .m his own account in Missaukee coun- 
ty, an occupation w Inch he has followed ever 
since in conjunction with farming. At the 
time of his in;irriage. in iSyi, Mr. Beciitel 
removed to .Mant.ni and has here since re- 
sided. He is the owner of several hundred 
;.cres of go.ul laud, of which he cultivates 
nbout two huiKlred and hfty .-icres. niosi of 
which is in .Mis.saukee county. I k- is ;i c;ire- 
lul and progressive hu.sbandinan. thoroughly 
up-to-date in bis methods :.nd li.as made a 
distinctive .success of his vocation. His 
beautiful farm bears tlie marks ,,f tboiougl, 
cultivation ;uid careful management and tor 
a number of years be ha. ranked with the 



successful agriculturi.sts of his section uf the 
count}'. 

On the _'6th of June. 189J. Mr. Bechtel 
was united in marriage with Mi.ss Etta Stew- 
art, the ceremony being performed at Bell- 
aire. Michigan. Mrs. Bechtel was born at 
South Huron. Michigan. ,,n the :;oth of 
I Xovember. ]S75. and is the daughter of 
I James and Susan ( Stuart ) Stewart. The 
subject is a pronounced Re])ublican in ])oli- 
I tics and takes a keen interest in the trend 
I of passing events, especially as relating to 
the best interests of his countrv an.l 111^16- 
diate neighborhood. I-'or se\en vears he 
served as treasurer ot Laldwell and Dloom- 
! held townships in .Missaukee county, and 
snice residing in .Manton he has .served as a 
I member of the village council for four years. 
I'Vaternally he is identified with the Knights 
of Pythias, holding membershi]) in Cedar 
Cj-eek Lodge .\o. 147. and he is also a mem- 
ber of Tent .\"o. jjo. Knights f)f the .Mac- 
cabees. .Mr. jlcchtel has attained to an 
enviable .standing among the foremost men 
of Cedar Creek township. Stn.ng determi- 
nation, persistence in the pursuit of an hon- 
orable purpo.se, unrtagging energy and keen 
discrimination— these are the .salient features 
in his career and his life stands in unmi.stak- 
able evidence that success is n,,t a matter 
of genius, as held by .some, but is the out- 
come of earnest and well-directed effort. 



.\\V.\. n. I'.CK.M \.\-. 

The sturdy Swedish nationality in the 
state of Michigan has a worthy and honor- 
able representative in the subject of this 
review, who for some years past b.is been 




AXEL G. BURMAN. 



J F EX FORD COUNTY, All CHI CAN. 



523 



engaged in the real estate and insurance busi- 
ness at Cadillac. Axel G. Burman inherits 
many of the sterling characteristics of his 
Scandinavian ancestors and though still re- 
taining fond recollections of the fatherland 
and taking a pardonable pride in its splendid 
history and magnificent achie\enients, he is 
nevertheless a loyal citizen of his adi)i)ted 
country and an ardent admirer and earnest 
supporter ni the laws and institutions under 
which lie now lives. It is a pertinent truth 
that much depends upon being well born, for 
with the human race, as with the lower ani- 
mal and vegetable kingdoms, like invariably 
produces like. Fortunate indeed the indi- 
vidual who can point with pride to worthy 
ancestors with the consciousness that he has 
never by word or i\e<i(l tarnished the honor 
of the name they ha\e transmitted to him. 
In this respect the sulijcct has been peculiarly 
blessed, lirst, in lieing well Ijorn and, sec- 
ond, in Wdrthily upluilding the reputation 
of an (lid and estimable family, the origin of 
which is traceable to a very early period in 
the history of the Northland. 

Mr. Burman was born in Sweden No- 
vember 14, 1843, being the son of Rev. Os- 
car and Elizabeth Mosberg Burman, the 
father a learned antl for manv vears distin- 
guished clergyman of the Swedish Lutheran 
church, who s])ent all his life in his native 
country. He had charge nf a number of 
congregations, was an aljle and eloquent di- 
\'ine and died full of vears and honors at 
the age of sc\enty-three. iVIrs. Burman bore 
her husband seven children, the subject of 
this review being the ne.xt oldest of the num- 
ber, ruid she de|)arted this life in Sweden 
when alioul liftv years old. 

.\\el ( i. Ilurman grew u]i in a domestic 
atmos|)here of culture and reliiiement ;ind 



was given the best educational advantages 
his country afforded. After receiving his 
preliminary training in the common schools, 
he completed a high school course and then 
entered the University of Upsala, where he 
prepared himself for the legal profession, 
graduating from the law department of that 
institution in iiSOj. Opening an office, he at 
once engaged in practice and soon built up a 
lucrative business, in addition to which he 
also ser\-e<l for ten. years as criminal prosecu- 
tor for several districts in which he lived. At 
the expiration of his ofificial term Mr. Bur- 
man began dealing in real estate, which, with 
various lines of manufacture, engaged his 
attention until 1881, when, by reason of a 
general business depression, he disposed of 
his interests in Sweden and came to the 
United States. After an une\-entful voy- 
age Mr. Burman landed at New York, a 
strang;er in a strange land, and from that 
citv he proceeded to Chicago, where he re- 
mained for a few months, and then engaged 
in railroad construction, stone quarrying, 
levee biiilding and lumbering as a common 
laborer, in which work he devoted his atten- 
tion from 1 88 1 to 1887, traveling' during the 
interim) from the lakes to the gulf and from 
the -\lleghany to the Rocky Mountains, liav- 
ing been employed by a number of the lead- 
ing houses in the United States. Severing 
his connection with these lines fif work in 
iScS". he embarked on the sea of journalism 
by establishing at Marinette, Wisconsin, a 
Swedish newspaper called the Nordmannen. 
which under his able management continued 
to grow in faxnr with his countrymen of 
that state until 1889, when he exchanged the 
plant for a tract of land in Minnesota. 

Leading M.arinette. Air. liurman returned 
to Chicago, where he was engaged for some 



524 



WEXFORD COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



months in publisliing tlie Evening Blade, a 
paper devoted to the interest of the S\ve(hsli 
nationahty in that city and elsewhere, bnt 
in July of 1890 he sold the office for the pur- 
pose of devoting his time and attention ex- 
clusively to real estate. In December, 1892, 
Mr. Bnrman visited Cadillac in the interest 
of a friend whom he wished to assist in the 
newspaper and ]niblishing business, intend- 
ing to remain (inly long enough to establish 
the enterprise upon a solid basis. Being 
pleased with the town, however, and seeing 
a favorable opening for an energetic real 
estate man to do a thriving business he took 
council of his better judgment by concluding 
to make the flourishing little city his per- 
manent place of abode. Accordingly he 
wound up his affairs in Chicago and as soon 
as possible opened an office here, which he 
has since conducted with a constantly in- 
creasing patronage, being at this time the 
largest real estate dealer in Cadillac, as well 
as one of the city's iimsl widely kiinwn and 
highly respected cilizens. In addition to real 
estate he does a large and successful insur- 
ance business, is also a notary pulilic and has 
all he can attend to in his xarious lines. Air. 
Burman has been acti\e in municipal affairs 
since locating at Cadillac, and has done much 
to promote the city's material interests, hav- 
ing served in the capacity of alderman. He 
is classed among the best and most public- 
spirited citizens of the community, both as 
regards his business career, which is irre- 
l)roachalile. and his ci\ic capacity, which 
is without a stain. He is one of the leading 
Swedish-Americans in this part of the state, 
and has great influence with his fellow coun- 
trymen, as well as with the public in general, 
all who know him recognizing his ster- 
ling worth in everv relation of life. He pos- 



sesses exceptional industry and energ}', is 
widely read and thoroughly informed, and 
is. in short, a scholarly gentleman of varied 
culture whom to know is to respect and 
honor. 

Mr. Burman was married in his native 
land, June 16, 1868, to Miss Erica Hell- 
strom, who has borne him eight children, six 
living, namely : Ellen, the wife of .Axel Bau- 
din : Bertha, wife of Olaf Anderson ; Half- 
dan, Yngre, Atle and Rolf, alll of whom re- 
side in Sweden. 



XELSOX H. DL'XHAM. 

Xelson H. Dunham, who is engaged in 
general farming on section 4, Wexford 
township, was born in Steuben county, Xew 
York, on the 3d of June, 1838, and was 
reared upon his father's farm, his days being 
sjient in the usual manner of farmer lads of 
that period, the work of the helds claiming 
liis attention when he was not occupied with 
the duties of the schoolroom or engaged in 
the pleasures of the playground. He contin- 
ued a resilient of his native county until Xo- 
vember. 1863, and at that time he came to 
Wexford county, Michigan, becoming one 
of the first settlers who located within its 
borders. .Ml around him was an unbroken 
district as yet largely unclaimed for the uses 
of the white man. the trees standing in their 
priniev.il strength and the forest stretched 
aw'.iv for miles. Mr. Dunham secured a 
liomcstead of one hundred and sixty acres, 
which he entered in December. 1863. The 
following spring he built a log house and be- 
gan to clear and improve this land. Long 
since that primitive cabin home has given 
place to a good fr;une residence, while other 



I VEX FORD COUNTY. MICHIGAN. 



525 



buildings necessary for the shelter of grain 
and stock have been erected and tlie farm 
is now well supplied with modern equip- 
ments, lie is the owner (if ses'enty acres of 
rich land, of which aixnit forty-se\en acres 
is under cultivation. 

All-. Dunham was married in Wexford 
tiiwushi]), on the loth of January, 1866, the 
lady 111 his choice being Miss Lydia A. Cor- 
nell. They were the second coui)le married 
in Wexford county. Airs. Dunham was 
born in Steuben county, Xew \\)rk, on the 
j/th of Alarch, 1848, and Ijy her marriage 
has became the mother of four living chil- 
dren : Ede is the wife of B. E. Ormsby; 
Nettie is the wife of D. A. Co\ey ; Ira is the 
third of the family; and Alary is the wife of 
11. L. Hortim. They have also lost four 
children : Burt X. was a soldier of the Thirty- 
fourth Alichigan Regiment in the Spanish- 
.\merican war and ser\ed in Culja. The 
hardshi])S and rigors of war, howex'er, un- 
dermined his health and after his return home 
he died in Wexford comity mi the iith of 
April, 1899, when in his twenty-third year. 
I le was a young man of many sterling traits 
of character, respected and honored by all 
who knew him, popular with his friends and 
to his parents was a devoted son. His loss, 
therefore, came as a great blow to those w'ho 
knew him and most of all to his family. The 
ether children of the Dunham family who 
ha\e passed away are Alinnie and .\l\a, who 
died in infancy, and an adopted son, .\l\a, 
who died in his eighth year. 

Air. Dunham has been honored with 
some local offices in his township. He was 
the first constaljle elected in the township and 
in the various positions which he has been 
called upmi td fill he has discharged his duties 
with ni;n-ked promptness and capability. 1 lis 



entire life has been de\-oted to agricultural 
pursuits and lie has labored earnestly and 
untiringly in order to secure a good home 
and comfortable competence that he might 
l)rovide well for his wife and children. Mr. 
and Airs. Dunham have now traveled life's 
journey together for more than thirty-six 
years, sharing with each other the joys and 
sorrows, the ad\'ersit\' and pros[)erity which 
checker the careers of all. She is an estinia- 
l)le lady, wIkj has been to her husband a 
faithful companion and helpmate on life's 
journey and, like hini, she has many warm 
friends. Air. Dunham is indeed an honored 
pioneer settler of Wexford county and few 
of the residents here antedate his arrival. 
He has watched the forests cleared away and 
the wild land transformed into rich fields. 
He has also seen the establishment of \-il- 
lages which ha\'e gruwn into thriving towns 
or cities and has watched the introduction of 
all conveniences and impro\ements known to 
the older sections of the L'nited States. In 
matters of citizenship he has always Ijeen 
public spirited and has taken a deep and justi- 
fiable interest in what has been accomplished 
liere. 



AIARIOX B. BOYD. 

The i^eople wlio constitute the bone and 
sinew of this country are not those who are 
unstable and unsettled ; who Hy from this oc- 
cupation to tli;it ; wild (ill not know wdiere 
they stand on political ([uestions: who take 
no active and intelligent interest in affairs af- 
fecting their schools, church and property. 
The back1:)one of this country is made up 
nf families which have made their own 
JKimes: who .are alive to the best interests of 



52G 



WEXFORD COUNTY. MICHIGAN. 



the community in uiiicli ihey reside; wlio 
are so honest that it is no troul)le for their 
neighbors to know it: who attend to their 
own business and are too liusy to attend to 
that of otliers ; who work steadily on 
from day to day, taking the sunsliine with 
the storm, and who rear tine famihes to hon- 
est names and comfortable homes. Such 
people are always welcome in any communi- 
ty. .\mong them is the family represented 
by the subject of this sketch. 

Marion B. Boyd, of section 20, Selma 
tow^nship, is a native of Michigan, born in 
.\lpine. Kent county. August jo, 1S59. His 
]5arents were George and .\my ( Short ) 
Boyd, who were among the first settlers of 
Selma township, where the}' resided until 
their deaths, which occurred some years 
ago. Both were about sixty years of age at 
the time of their demise, though she sur- 
vived him a few years. 'idie\' were the par- 
ents of live children, of whom the sul)ject of 
this sketch was the voungest. 

In March, 1 S7 1 . the family nio\ed from 
KeiU to Wexford count}", where the subject 
tjf this review was about twehe }ears old. 
He attended school in Kent county and later 
in Wexford countv ;uid ini])ro\ed his oi:)por- 
tunities so well that he is possessed of a \ery 
fair common-school education. With the 
exception of two years spent in the woods, 
in the upper peninsula of Michigan, logging 
and lumbering, his entire life since 1871 has 
been spent in Selma township, harming has 
l)een the occupation of his life, varied occa- 
sionally, when there was little to be done on 
the farm, b}' working in llie lumber camps. 
With what he was able to save from the 
rumuneration he received for his industry on 
the farm and in the woods, he i)nrchased 
cightv acres of laud, built a home thereon 



and there are now about fifty acres of the 
tract cleared and under culti\-ation. 

( )n the _'Otli day of .\pril. 1871;. in Selma 
lownshii), Marion B. Boyd was united in 
marriage to Miss Mel\ ina ^lartin, a native 
of .\ew Jersey, born in Newark, ILssex coun- 
t} , .\i)ril 17, 1863. Soon after their mar- 
riage tiiey took up their abode on the farm 
owned by the subject and there they have 
since resided. Ii\ing in happiness, content- 
ment and comfort. They are thj parents of 
three interesting and intelligent children, 
\iz : i'red, Lewis and Georgiana. Two of 
the children of tliis marriage died in infancv. 

Although a man of gootl mental power 
jind well informed, ]\lr. Boyd interests him- 
self \cry little in politics. His well-known 
prudence is i)rol)aL)l}' respoiisiljle for his lack 
of interest in that particular luie. While a 
few men may have accumulated wealth in 
politics there are tens of thous;uiils who ha\e 
impoverished themseh'es in their mad race 
after political honors. Iht.- lessons taught 
b}' the exjierience of such persons have not 
been lost on Mr. Boyd. I'rudently observing 
and profiting by his observation, he has chos- 
en to be as passne in politics as good citizen- 
ship will permit. Still he has not dcliarred 
himself entirel}' from political honors. He 
has served as deputy sherifl:' a number of 
terms, was constable a length of time and 
served the people of his township faithfidly 
and well in the capacity of highway com- 
missioner. While in no sense a politician, 
it is a verv easy matter to interest him in 
anvthing wherein is invoked the wellare of 
tlie township in which he li\cs. lie is ;i m;ui 
of domestic tastes, regular habits and genial 
mruniers. He has ever} element which is 
considered necessary to make a man ixipular, 
but he has no desire to make use of it h\ seek- 



WEXFORD COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



527 



iiig political preferment. Tlie only fraternal 
order to which he Ijelongs is Pleasant Lake 
Grange. 

■*—*■ 

\\'AR1) }'. SMITH. 

Ward r. Smith is now a re.sidcnt of 
drand Ra])ids, but through many years was 
\ ery acti\el)' connected with l)usiness life 
and public affairs in Wexford count\' and has 
left the impress of his indivitluality for g<iod 
upon many lines of progress and improve- 
ment. He is so well l<nown in this county 
and has been such an important factor in 
her public life that no history of this section 
of the state would be complete without men- 
tion of Ward F\ Smith. He was i_)ne of tlic 
pioneers of Wexford count\' and for many 
years witnessetl its dex'elopment and growth. 

Mr. Smith was born in tlie \-illage of 
Otsego. Allegan count\;. Michigan, on the 
Ciih of Sei^temlier. 1842, and was there reared 
In manhciod. His father died when the son 
was eight years of age and the mother after- 
ward became the wife of Norris Bullock. 
The subject contintted to live with his mother 
and step-father'upon the farm in Trowbridge 
liiwnship, .\llegan county, there remaining 
until nineteen }'ears of age, during which 
time he became familiar with the work of 
lield and meadow as he assisted in the opera- 
tion of the home place. To the common- 
school system of that locality he is indebted 
for the educational privileges he enjoyed. 
When a young man of nineteen years he en- 
listed for serx'ice in the Union army in re- 
s])onse to the countr\'s need, becoming a 
member of Company 1. Thirteenth Michigan 
\'olunteer infantr_\-, with which he served 
for three years. Going to the frunt with his 



command, he participated in the battle of 
Stone River, Tennessee, where he received 
a se\'ere gunshot wound on the right side of 
the face, in consequence of which injury his 
eyesight w^as almost destroyed. However, as 
soon as possible he left the hos])ital and dur- 
ing the remainder of his term of serxice was 
on detach duty, siiending much of the time 
a1 Camp Dennisun, in Ohio, as hospital stew- 
ard. He was mustered out of the ser\ice at 
L'incinnati, Ohio, and with a most credita- 
ble and honorable military record returned 
to his home. 

After recei\ing an honorable discharge 
Mr. Smith went to Allegan county, Michi- 
gan, where he was engaged in farming for 
about two years in Trowbridge township. He 
afterward remoxed to Saugatuck, Michigan, 
w here he was engaged in teaming for about 
one year. He then took up his abode in 
Heath township. Allegan count}', where he 
was emplo\ed in the lumber woods at team- 
ing for t\yo years. C_)n the expiration of that 
period he took up his abode on a tarm in 
Hopkins township, that county, where he 
remained until the spring of 1874, when he 
sold his farm and turned his attention to the 
milling business. It occupied his time and 
energies until the fall of 1875. when he ar- 
rived in Manton, W'exford county. There 
he entered business life as a merchant and for 
lu'e years was thus connected with commer- 
cial pursuits of the city, but at the end of that 
time he was obliged to sell out on account of 
failing eyesight. About a _\-ear later he built 
an office and turned his attention to the real 
estate, land and collection business, at the 
s;mie time acting as justice of the peace. In 
his new venture he continued until 18S6, 
when he remo\ed to Grand Rapids and soon 
afterward he took up his abode where he nuw 



528 



WEXFORD COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



resides, at Xo. 491 Xortli Diamund street. 
He is now engaged in irnit growing on a 
large scale and finds it a pmfitable source of 
income. Michigan is one of the best fruit 
growing states in the L'nion and Mr. Smith 
is wise in making this his business, for 
through his ca])able management and enter- 
prise he finds that it returns to liim a good 
income. 

Mr. Smith left behind him many friends 
in ]\lanton. but tlie ties of friendship were not 
severed by his remo\al and he receives 
hearty greeting upon liis frecpient returns to 
the town in which he li\ed for a number of 
years. While residing here he m it only acted 
as justice of the peace, but was also super- 
visor of Cedar Creek township. He was 
also one of the organizers of the town of 
Manton and was ap])ointed by the governor 
to the ])osition of chairman of the first elec- 
tion board, lie was also county superinten- 
dent of the ])oor and was president and treas- 
urer of the village. He acted as a member 
of the school board and in rdl of these offices 
discharged his duties wiih promptness and 
fidelity that won him the un([ualihed confi- 
dence and respect of his fellow men. No 
trust reposed in him has ever been betrayed 
in the slightest degree, for he is a man of 
sterling integrity and honor. His political 
su])port has been given to the Republican and 
to the rrohibition ])arlies. 

^Ir. Smith was married in Otsego, Alle- 
gan county, ]\Iichigan. December 3, 1865, to 
Miss Mary J. Wood, who was born July i, 
J 850. a native of \'ermont, and a daughter 
of Ezekiel and La\-ina (Holley) Wood, 
both of whom were natives of the Green 
Ivlountain state. The marriage of the sub- 
ject and his wife has been blessed with seven 
children : Estella C, who died when fifteen 



years of age : l-"reddie. who died at the age of 
thirteen years; Arthur, who is now a mer- 
chant of Grand Rapids. Michigan: Giles \., 
who died when about nine years of age; 
George 1).. who is foreman of the mailing 
department of the Grand Rapids Evening 
Press : Frank, a stenographer : and William 
R., who com])letes the family. Mr. and 
Tslrs. Smith lia\e for a number of years been 
deepl}- and acti\ely interested in church work. 
Their labors and influence ha\e e\er lieen 
lielpful in that direction and the}' are worthy 
Christian peoi)le. whose lives are framed in 
accordiuice with the teachings of the lowh' 
Xazarene. Their membership is with the 
Methodist Episcopal church, of which Mr. 
Smith is a local preacher. Fraternally he 
is a charter member of ilanton Lodge Xo. 
347, I'^ree and .\ccepted ]\Iasons, and he is 
also a charter member of O. R. ]\birton Post. 
(irand Army of the Re])ublic, of Manton. of 
which he ser\ed as its first adjutant. Such 
in brief is the life history of one who is very 
wideh' and fas'oralilv known in Wexford 
count\-. His interest in the county has e\er 
been of a practical nature that results in di- 
rect benefit along lines of substantial im- 
provement and material upbuilding. He has 
indeed many friends there and all who know 
him entertain for him warm regard. 



PHLLH^ KELLOGG. 

This successful farmer, old resident ;uid 
representative citizen of the township in 
which he lives is a native of Tioga county, 
Pennsylvania, where his birth occurred on the 
2(Ah day of .\pril. 1S32, being the son of 
Merritt and Claris.sa (}iLanhart) Kellogg, 



WEXFORD COUNTY. MICHIGAN. 



529 



Iiotli parents born in the Keystone state. 
W'lien he was a chilil liis father removed to 
Steuben county. New "^'ork, and he there 
spent the years of liis chilchiood and youth 
on a farm, early becoming accustomed to 
tlie various kinds of ialior rec[uired in tilHng 
the soil Before reaching his majority he 
lived at tliftcrent places in New York, but 
after his marriage, which was solemnized in 
the month of March, i860, with Miss Eliza- 
beth Campbell, he returned t(.) his native 
slate and li\ed during the ensuing five years 
near his old home in the county of Tioga. 
Meantime he ciintinued to de\-ote his atten- 
tion til agricultural pursuits and it was with 
the oliject in view of securing cheaper land, 
where he could prosecute his life work with 
more certain promise of successful results, 
that he disposed of his interests in Pennsyl- 
vania in the fall of 1865 and migrated to 
Michigan. On coming to this state Mr. 
Kellogg located in Wexford township, W'ex- 
ford county, where he to(jk up a homestead 
of one hundred and sixtv acres in section 2, 
which he at once proceeded to develop and 
iniprci\e. The ciiuntr\- al that time was new 
and sparsely settled and much hard work 
was reijuired to reduce the land to cultiva- 
tion, but, with an energy liorn of a determin- 
ation to succeed, the subject applied him- 
self diligently and in due time a comfort- 
able home with many of the con\eniences of 
life rewarded his earnest and laudal)le en- 
deavors. 

Mr. Kellogg has se\enty acres of his 
farm in culti\-ation and he raises abundant 
crops of all the grains and \ egetables grown 
in this latitude, devoting ciMisiderable atten- 
tion to fruit culture, to which branch of hus- 
bandry his soil appears peculiarly adapted. 
He has made many substantial iniprovcments 



in the way of buildings, fences, etc.. has 
spared no reasonable expense in proxitling 
for the comfort oi his family and is now 
well situated to enjoy life, owning a house", 
with a competence laid up against the pro- 
\-erbial rainy day which sooner or later 
comes to the majorit\- of men, or for old age. 
which in his case is not \erv far in the fu- 
ture. 

]\Irs. Kell(_)gg was born December 9, 
1836, in New York state, the daughter of 
James and Abigail ( Evans) Campbell, na- 
tives of Connecticut and Pennsyhania re- 
spectively. She has borne her liusband 
three sons, whose names are Herbert. James 
and Devereaux, and one daughter, Abbie 
C, is the widow of Calvin Coblentz. Mr. 
Kellogg has been active in the affairs of his 
township, especially in matters educational, 
having long manifested a lively interest in 
the ])ul)lic schools, for the success of which 
he has devoted consideralile of his time and 
attention. lie also stands for all enterprises 
for the material prosperity of the country, 
lends his influence to every laudable meas- 
i:re for the social achancement and moral 
good of the community and, as a public- 
spirited, progressive citizen, is ever ready to 
make sacrilices to promote the general wel- 
fare. Personally he is highly esteemed by 
all who know him and by reason of his long 
continued residence in the same locality, a 
residence extending over a period of nearly 
forty years, he has become widely ac(|uainted 
I and favorably known, his life during that 
time being above reproach, his character S(i' 
honorable and steadfast as to defy adverse 
criticism, his relations with his fellow citi- 
zens so creditable and praiseworthy that all 
within the range of his iuHuence pronounce 
him a man of pure motives, noble aims and 



530 



IV EX FORD COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



correct ideals. Politically j\[r. Kellogg 
gives his support to the Democratic party, 
l)iit aside from defending his convictions and 
voting his principles, he can hardly be called 
a politician, having no desire for public dis- 
tinction nor any aspirations as an office 
seeker. Content to spend his days as an 
humhle though honorable tiller of the soil 
and to be known simply as a private citizen, 
he h\es a life of quiet usefulness, respected 
by Iriends and neighbors for his many esti- 
mable qualities of head and heart and l)y 
upright conduct and manly <leportment prov- 
ing himself worthy of the confidence and es- 
teem in which he has so long been held. 



HAXS OSTEXSEX. 

An enumeration of the citizens of Cadil- 
l:ic who have won honor and public recog- 
nition in the past and who now occupy prom- 
nient positions in the social and business cir- 
cles of the city, would be incomplete without 
due notice of the enterprising gentleman 
whose brief biography is herewith presented. 
Hans Ostensen is an .\merican by adoption, 
bemg a native of Scandinavia and inheriting 
in a marked degree the sterling characteris- 
tics which from time nnmemorial have dis 
tmguished this sturdy nationality from other 
luu-opean peoples. Still a young man. in the 
prune of his physical and mental powers, he 
has forged to the front in various capacities, 
overcoming many obstacles in the way of his 
advancement, filling worthily positions of 
trust, until he stands today one of the lead- 
mg spirits in ;i city l.mg noted for the enter- 
prise and talent of its business men. .Mr. 
Ostensen was born April 8, 1871, in Ber- 



gen, Norway, and spent his childhood and 
youth in that cit\-. He enjoyed excellent 
educational advantages, recei\ing a thorough 
mental training in the Cathedral School of 
Bergen, fronr which he was graduated in 
1887 when but sixteen years of age. 

The year fcjllowing his graduation, 
young Ostensen bade adieu to his nati\e land 
and came to the United States, his objective 
point being :\Iinneapolis; Minnesota, where 
he proposed further prosecuting his studies. 
When en route to ihat city he stop])ed at 
Cadillac, Alichigan, and being favorably im- 
pressed with the latter place and the advant- 
ages it afl:'orde(l to a young man with ambi- 
tion to rise in the world, he wisely decided to 
make it the terminus of his journey. His 
first employment here was in the capacity of 
assistant cook on the Blodgett farm, but 
after four months' service there he obtained 
through the kindness of an influential friend 
a position in the postoffice, first as a general 
delivery clerk, and later as chief clerk of 
the mailing department. After three years 
of faithful service in the postoffice, Air. Os- 
tensen resigned his position and accepted a 
clerkship in the clothing hou.se of H. E. Al- 
dnch & Company, with whom he remained 
until the spring of 1895, nieantinre by tlili- 
gent application becoming familiar with the 
fundamental principles of business, besides 
developing great efficiency as a salesman. 
When the above firm moved to another city, 
the sul)ject entered the employ of ]'.(). Kljnt 
& Company, merchant tailors and clothiers, 
and later, on the _'d of July. i8g5. he ])ur- 
chased an interest in the business, succeed- 
ing the senior i)artner. an<l, with Oluf John- 
son, establishing the new linn of Johnson & 
Osten.sen, the name by which the house was 
known until March 2^, 1903, when :\Jr. Os- 




HANS OSTENSEN. 



J l^ EX FORD COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



531 



tensen became sole proprietor, liaxino- pur- 
chased Mr. Johnson's interest. 

The laro-c ac(|uaintance acciuired by Mr. 
Ostensen while in the postoffice and in the 
employ of Aldrich & Company i)roved a ma- 
terial help in advancnii;- the business of the 
finiT with which he is now proprietor, a 
Inisiness which steadily grew in \olume untd 
a building of enlarged proportions became 
necessary. In August, 1897, the f^rm re- 1 
moved to the present quarters in the Granite 
block, (Mie of the best located and most de- | 
sirable Inisincss places in the cit\-, and here 
the trade has steadily increased with a far- 
reaching patronage, the tlramte Block Cloth- 
ing Store now standing at the head in the 
lines of business which it represents. 

Mr. Ostensen has a laudable ambition as 
a merchant and seeks by every means within 
his power to make bis business worthy the 
large and constantly increasing patronage 
which it now commands. His relations with 
the public are most pleasant and cordial and, 
possessing a keen insight into human nature 
and the happy faculty of winning friends, it 
is not strange that his patrons include the 
best people of the city and surrounding coun- 
try. He has labored' earnestly and faithfully 
to' promote his interests, subordinating every 
other consideration to this one object, and 
it is conceded that much of the success with 
which the business has met is directly at- 
tributable to his energy, systematic methods 
and superior executive ability. 

An ardent Republican and an influential 
party w^orker, Mr. Ostensen is not a politi- 
cian in the sense the term is usually under- 
stood, neither is he an oflice seeker, although 
frequently importuned to stand for impor- 
tant public positions. 1 le twice declined the 



nomination for city treasurer, but in the 
spring of 1899, contrary to his wishes, he 
was elected to that oflice and discharged the 
duties of the same for a period of two years, 
proving a capable and popular public servant 
and a safe custodian of the public funds. Mr. 
Ostensen has unboumled conhdence in the 
future of Cadallic, and is a zealous advocate 
of and inlkiential worker for all worthy 
enterprises for the city"s material adxance- 
ment. He is just completing, for his own 
occupancy, one of the finest residences in 
northern Michigan. He also manifests a 
livelv interest in the moral welfare of the 
community, being a friend of churches, 
schools and other agencies for the general 
welfare of his kind. As a memljer of the 
board of educati(jn he has done nwcli for the 
public schools of Cadillac. Fraternally Mr. 
Ostensen belongs to Lodge No. 46, Kmghts 
of Pythias, and he is also an influential mem- 
ber and past president of the (iotlia Aid and 
Benefit Society. He is a believer in re- 
vealed religion, and as a member of the 
Swedish Bajitist church of Cadillac demon- 
strates by liis tlaily walk and conversation 
the beauty and value of Christianity when 
practically applied. He is a leading mem- 
ber of the above congregation, a liberal con- 
trilnitor to its charitable and benevolent 
work and for several years past has lieen the 
efficient superintendent of the Sunday school, 
a iX)St for which he seems peculiarly fitted. 
Referring to the domestic life of Mr. 
Ostensen. it is learned that he was happily 
married on the 17th day of August, 1898, 
to Miss Elvira Johnson, a native of Sweden, 
who was brought to this countr>- b>- her i)ar- 
ents when five years old. Two children add 
sunshine to the home of Mr. and .Mrs. Os- 



532 



IVEXI-ORD COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



tensen. Harold B. and Floyd C. both bright 
and promising, and in them are centered 
many fond hopes for the future. 

'Jhus in a brief and cursory way ha\e 
been set forth the leading facts and some of 
the more prominent characteristics in the 
career of one of Cadillacs representative 
men of affairs. To the best of his ability 
Mr. Ostensen has aided the progress and ad- 
\ancement of the city of his residence, faith- 
fully performed the duties of citizenship, and 
discharging with commendable fidelity every 
trust reposed in him by his fellow men. His 
position in the esteem and friendship of the 
community has long been assured and he 
does honor to the dainty and city which 
claim him as an adopted son and in which the 
greater part of his life work thus far has 
been acconiiilished. 



RICHARD C. XORRIS. 

Richard C. Xurris is a iiatixe uf the 
state of \'ennMiit, born at West Derljv, 
March 30, 1N43. His parents were I'-le- 
phalet S. and Susan A. (Alexander) Xor- 
ris, both natives of the Green Muuntain 
slate, where the \-ears of their lives were 
spent and from whence the spirit of each 
took its flight into the life hereafter. They 
were the parents of si.x children, the young- 
est of whom is the subject of this review. 
.\t the early age of thirty \ears ileath 
claimed the young mother, w hen her \-oung- 
est child was a mere infant. The father 
lived more than the JJiblical alottment of 
three score and ten, being seventy-four \erirs 
old at the time of his deatii. 

The earlv life (.if Richard C. Xorris was 



passed in the state of \'ermont. The time 
he spent in the school room was brief, in- 
deed, 1)ut inspired with a laudable ambition 
and iml)ued with a thirst for knowledge, 
he availed himself of e\erv op])ortunit\' to 
gain information. Before he attained his 
majority he had as good a general know ledge 
of the Common branches of education as 
many a youth who had spent the greater 
part of the years of his life in the school 
room. This was done, too, without any of 
his {luties on his fatiier"s farm being neglect- 
ed by him. 

In Septemiier, 1862, Richard C. Xorris. 
realizing that his country needed his ser- 
\ices in the suppression of the great Reljel- 
lion. enlisted in Company H, Fifteenth Reg- 
iment \'ermont \'olunteer Infantry, this be- 
ing tlie regiment of which Senator Proctor 
was colonel. The term of enlistment was 
only nine months, and after seeing much 
service in the battle fields of the South, it 
was mustered out in June, 1863. Many of 
its members re-enlisted immediately and 
continued in the difficult and hazardous 
task of putting down the rebellion. The sub- 
ject of this rex'iew. Iiowever, returned home 
for much-needed rest, in the summer of 
1864 he again enlisted, this time in Com- 
j)aiiv I. l-"irst \ ermont Ca\alry, in which 
regiment he served until the close of the 
war. After recei\ing an honorable dis- 
charge, he betook himself again to his native 
state and de\oted himself for the next four 
years to agriculture pursuits. 

In the summer of 1869 he started out on 
a tour of the west, with a view of finding a 
location more congenial and remunerative 
for the labor expended than the bleak hills 
of northern \'erniont. He traveled th.rough 
Kansas, Xebraska, Iowa, Illinois and In- 



IVEXPORD COUNTY. MIClilGAl 



533 



diana, sl()])ping some time at various points 
in those states, l)nt finding- no ])lace which 
suited him in all particulars. In Indiana he 
accepted emplnvment on a farm and re- 
niained there a few months, then came to 
Allegan cnuntx'. Michigan, where he secured 
employment cutting wood for the Lake Shore 
& Michigan Southern Railroad. He was 
thus employed for ahout a vear when, in the 
autumn of 1870, he came to Wexford 
county, settled on a homestead, part of sec- 
tion 28, Selma township. 

July 3, 1873, in Watson tnwnship. Alle- 
gan county, Alichigan, Kichard C Xorris 
was united in marriage to jNIiss Sarah A. 
.\lexander, a natixe of Alichigan, born in 
Allegar: cnunty. l-'ehruary i_', 1850, She 
is a lad}' of good education, re- 
fined and p(jssessed of many, accomplish- 
ments. Her parents were David and 
Paulina (Rose) Alexander, natixes of \'er- 
mont who had moved to Michigan soon 
after their marriage and resided in Allegan 
ciiuntv until their deaths. He died at tiie 
early age of twenty-seven years, while she 
sur\'ived him many }'ears, lieing upwards of 
sixtv years of age when she entered eternity. 
The}' were the parents of two children, Mrs. 
Xorris being the youngest child of the 
family. She was reared to womanhood, 
educated aiid married in her native county of 
.Mlegan. To her and her husband three 
intelligent, winsome children have hten born, 
\ iz : Estella P., a most promising girl, who 
died at the age of thirteen years: Fannie E. 
is the wife of R. T. Montgomery: Ray C. 
resides with his parents. 

After marriage Richard and Sarah Xor- 
ris took up their abode on his farm in Selma 
township, where they continued to reside 
lor three vears. In 1876 he purchased 



eighty acres of land in section 27^. the sanie 
township, to wTiicli the\' mmed, and that has 
been their home u]) to the present time. 
Later he purchased eight}' acres more, which 
makes the farm a comfortable one of one 
liundred and sixt}' acres. It is nearly al' 
cleared, improxed and well cultivated. It 
was reclainied from the wilderness almost 
entirely Ijy the industry of its eiiergctic 
owner. 

Notwithstanding the busy life that he 
has led and the nuniber (jf matters constant- 
I}' demanding his attention, Mr. Xorris has 
found a good deal of tinie to de\'Ote to cixic 
afifairs. He serxed nine years as superin- 
tendent of the pc;)or of Wexford county, was 
d;e])nty sheriff two years, was highway com- 
missioner of Selma township li\'e years, 
.-served as justice of the peace, township treas- 
urer and was president of the Pioneer So- 
ciety of the townships of Selma, Haring, 
Boon, Cijifax, Clam Lake and the city of 
Cadillac, Only three other settlers pre- 
ceded him in taking up their abode in Selma 
township. He is a member of Washington 
Post, Grand Army of the Republic, of Cadil- 
lac, is also a memlier of the Patrons of Hus- 
bandry, niasler of Wexford Conntv Po- 
mona I I range and president of the Patrons' 
Mutual I'^ire Insurance Compan}- of Wex- 
ford, Osceola and Missaukee counties. He is 
a man whose kindly smile and genial man- 
ners readily win friends in anv gathering in 
which he ma\' be found. There are few- 
men in an}' community more conifortabl}' 
situated than he is. Possessed of enough 
of this w'l/rld's goods to supply e\er}' want, 
blessed with health and strength, with a 
iruc and noble wife at his side and snri'ound- 
ed bv children who were alw;i}'s noted for 
their obedience and moralit\', whv need a 



534 



WEXFORD COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



man seek further for that paradise of 
which we hear. Init of which we know noth- 



TACOB DISCHER. 



Jacnl) Disclier is a native of Ohio, horn in 
Putnam county. March 15. 1847. and there 
lie was reared until sixteen years of age. 
His parents were Jolin and ^laria ( Hed- 
rick) Disclier. hoth natives of Germany. 
They emigrated to America in the early part 
of the last century and located in Ohio. 
They were the parents of ele\en children, of 
whom the subject was the youngest. He 
received his education in the public schools 
of his nati\c cuunty and., although leaving 
school when (|uitc young, had managed to 
actpiire a fair knowledge of all the common 
school branches. At the age of si.xteen 
years, accompanied by his elder brother, 
William Disclier, he went to southern Mich- 
igan, and located in Branch cnunty. where 
lie remained about eighteen nicnths. em- 
ployed at such labor as he could find to do. 
.'^t. Joseph countv next liecanie his residence 
and l;iter Osceola county, where he was em- j 
])loyed in a sriw-mill, in the woods on the 
( irand ivapids & Indiana Railroad. These 
\arious occupations he followed until 1869, 
when he came to W^exford county and set- 
tled on a farm in Clam Lake township which 
is now' his home and where he has since re- 
sided. He is one of the very oldest settlers 
in Wexford county. On this farm, which 
consists of one hundred and twenty acres, he 
erected a large barn in 1898. besides other 
necessary farm buildings, substantial, con- 
venient and commodious, luglity acres of 
the place are cleared and in a line state of 
cultivation. 



On the 13th day of September, 1875. i" 
Clam Lake township, Jacob Disclier was 
united in marriage to Miss Sophronia Hoff- 
man, a native of Calhoun county, ^Michigan, 
born November ly. 1858. Her parents are 
the late Hugh and Mary ( l-'ritz) Hoffman, 
natives of I'ennsyKania. To Mr. and Mrs. 
Disclier four children have been born, viz; 
Burt. F.dward. ^linnie and Kittie. Minnie 
is the wife of Gustave Brehm, and they have 
one child, Gladys. Burt wedded Miss (Jer- 
trude ilead and they have two daughters. 
Alpha May and Blanche Kittie. The family 
is most estimable and highly respected 
throughout the county. 

In politics Mr. Disclier is a consistent and 
ihorough-going Democrat, who imt only be- 
lieves in the ])rinciples of the party but who 
is willing to make some sacrifices in its be- 
half. The family are members of the Ger- 
man Lutheran church, regular attendants 
upon its services and devout worshippers. 



NORM AX .\. REVXOLIJS. 

The two niost strongly marked charac- 
teristics of the east and the west are com- 
bined in the residents of the section of coun- 
try of which this volume treats. The en- 
thusiastic enterprise which overleaps all 
obstacles and makes possible almost any 
undertaking in the comparatively new and 
vigorous western states, is here tempered by 
the stable and more conservative policy that 
wc borrow from our eastern neighbors and 
the conibin.ation is one of peculiar force and 
|)ower. It has been the means of placing 
this section of country on a par with the 
oldest east, at the same time producing a re- 



WEXFORD COUNTY. MICHIGAN. 



535 



lialiility and certainty in business affairs 
which is frequently lacking in the west. 
This happy combination of characteristics 
is possessed in a marked degree by the sub- 
ject of this review, Xorman A. Reyncjlds. 
of Cedar Creek township, present member of 
the County board of super\ isors. 

In W'ellsville. Allegany county, Xew 
York, on the 23rd c:)f Fel)ruar\-, 1S51, Xor- 
man A. Reynolds was liorn. lie was the 
oldest of two children born to his parents, 
Norman and Phoebe A. (Abbott) Reynolds, 
whose life of domestic tranquility was re- 
markable only for its bre\ity. the young 
mother dying in 1853, when the subject was 
only two years old. The care and rearing 
of the child being thus left to strangers, it 
may well be imagined that the life of the 
boy was by no means a happy one. Cp to 
the time that he was eighteen years old he 
lived mostly in Steuben county, though a 
portion of the time was spent in Wayne 
county. Had he been a boy with little apti- 
tude or taste for learning he might have 
grown up in ignorance of letters and books, 
but the natural tendency of the youth was 
toward the acquisition of knowledge, to 
which he is indelited for the satisfactory 
cnmmon school education which he received, 
llis father was b\' occupation a cal)inct- 
maker and followed his calling until the 
breaking out of the Rebellion, when he en- 
listed in the Eighty-sixth Regiment, Xew 
York Volunteer Infantry, and served until 
the close of the war. He is still living, a 
resident of Steuben count}-. Xew ^'ork, 
where the greater part of his long and useful 
life has been spent. 

In April. 1860. Xorman A. Reynolds 
left his native state and went into northern 
Michigan. He remained for a time in W ex- 



ford county, before it was organized, then 
sought and secured employment in various 
sections of the northern part of the state, 
continuing at such work as he was ai)le to 
procure until iS/2. when he returned to 
\\'exford county. Having attained his 
majority abcnit the time of his return to 
Wexford county, he took uj) a homestead in 
( jreenwoixl township, upon which he erected 
a residence, established his home, resided 
ui)on and cultivated the place until 1895, 
when he settled in Manton to take charge of 
and manage the store of the Patrons' Busi- 
ness Association. While living in Greenwood 
he represented tiiat township on the county 
board of supervisors for ten years, served 
a number of years as justice of the peace 
and was much of the time one of the school 
officers of the district. \\'hen the township 
was organized he was one of those who voted 
at the first election ever held in the township, 
in the spring of 1873, l)eing then less than 
twenty-two years old. 

Jul}' 4. 1877, Norman A. Reynolds was 
united in marriage to Miss Linda K. 
Wood, a nati\-e of Michigan, born in Alle- 
gan county in 1857. Her parents wore 
A\'illiam W. and i'hoeba A. ( Riclie}') Wood, 
old settlers of Antioch townsiiii), Wexford 
county. I.oth are now deceased. 'J'o the 
union of Mr. and .Mrs. Iveynolds one son. 
Kstavan I)., has Ijeen born, who is now in 
the twenty-first year of his age. The po- 
litical affiliations of Air. Reynolds are with 
the Republican party and he is a man of 
recognized abilit}' and influence in the party 
in the localit}' whci-e he resides. He is at 
present supervisor of I'edar Creek tcjwnshi]) 
and is also justice of the peace, filling each 
position to the satisfaction of his constit- 
uents. He is a member of Cedar Creek 



536 



Jr EX FORD COUXTY, MICHIGAN. 



Lodge No. 147, Knights of Pytliias. For 
al)out a year after ser\ing his cnnnection 
witli tlie Patrons' Bnsiness Association, 
wiiich closed ii]) its affairs and (|nit Inisiness. 
lie suffered from ill health, hut has since 
fully recovered, lie takes an acti\e inter- 
est in all public matters, and his opinions on 
various (juestions arising in the community 
are frei|nentl}- suiiglit. He is a txpic.'d man 
of the pciipie. the unseUishness of wliose 
nature is the secret of his popularity. 



WILLIA.M McXlLT. 

.\ yiiung man ne\er de\'oted the years of 
his early maniiood to a more nnhlc nr \\iirth\- 
cause than in the defense of his nati\e land 
and the prdtectiim nf her institutions. I'or- 
tunate indeed was he wlin sur\i\-ed to see 
the dark shadow nf civil war swept fmni the 
face of the land that ga\e him hirth and to 
sec the one hint upon its fair name, human 
slavery, wiped nut fi>rc\er. The subject of 
this review, Williaiu .McXitt, is one of the 
aggressive and enthusiastic youths nf iSOi, 
who went to the front, c>ft'ering their li\es 
lli;it the free institutions of their country 
might li\-e. 

William AlcXitt is a native of Ohio. He 
was Ijorn October 20. 1S40, and sjient the 
first two years of his life in and near the 
place of his birth. His parents were Sidney 
and Madula McXitt, natives of Ohio :md 
c;u"ly pioneers of Kent county, Michigan. 
In 1S42 the family moxed to Dul'age ct)unty, 
Illinois, where the\' continued to reside un 
til 1849. when they moved to Kent county. 
Michigan, where they cmuinued to reside 
until their d,eath, a number nf \ears ago. 



.\t the time of his death his father was sev- 
enty-one years old. The}' were the parent.-; 
of ti\e children, nf whom William was the 
( eldest. 

In the public schools of Du Page county, 
Illinois, and of Kent county, Michigan, the 
education of William McXitt was procured. 
In August. i8()i. just liefore attaining his 
majority, he enlisted as a pri\ate suhlier in 
a company raised in Kent couiUn' that was 
later assigned to the l*"irst Regiment, Xew 
Vork Lincoln Cavalry, fie took ])art with 
his regiment in many of the important hat- 
ties of the war and was slightly wounded in 
an engagement that took place between Mar- 
tinsburg and Bunker Hill, West X'irginia. 
Later he was taken prisoner, at Moretield, 
West Virginia, but fortunately made his es- 
cape and reached his regiment before Ijeing 
recaptured. He served until after the 
close I if the war. being mustered out of the 
ser\ice in Julv, iBA^. 

Returning to Kent cnunt\', Michigan, 
.Mr. .McXitt engaged there in farming a 
number of years, then went to southern Illi- 
nois and remained there two years, when, in 
October, 187J, he mo\ed to We.\ford county 
and loc.ited on one hundred and sixty acres 
I if land, part of section 14, Imkhi township. 
This land he has cleared and imiiroxcd and 
s])lendidly fitted it up fur a farm. ( )ne hun- 
dred and ten of its fertile acres are now un- 
der cultixatioii. Outside of the four years 
spent in the service of his country farming 
has been his life work. 

On the 7th day of December. iS()5, in 
Kent countN, .Michigan, William McXitt 
was united in marriage to Miss Maria .Saur, 
a. native of Sweden, born .March _v i84'>, 
a ladv possessed of man\' sign.al \irtnes and 
eudeariu"' (inalities, h'oiir h.indsome and in- 



WEXFORD COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



587 



tcllioent children lia\"c been Ijorn to Ijless 
tlieir union. Tliey are Nora, Gussie, Claude 
and William. Both the g'irls are married, 
Nora l)eing- the wife of \\'. ]>. W'atkins. and 
C'liisie is married to Henry Mansfield, lioth 
gentlemen being worthy and prosperous 
farmers of Wexford county. 

Every intelligent community lo\-es to 
honor its prudent, capable, upright citizens 
with public place. This is doubtless the rea- 
son why the subject of this re\'ie\v has been 
called by the voters of Boon township, at 
various times, to fill the ofiice of supervisor, 
townshi]! treasurer and a member of the 
school board. The affairs of the townsliip 
ha\-e always commanded a good deal of his 
time and attention. In e\ery mo\'ement 
for the general good, without any desire to 
make himself conspicuous, he has alwavs 
taken a prominent part. He and his wife 
are members of the Boon Baptist church and 
botli are activelv interested in church and 
charitable work. Their contrilnitions to 
every good cause are alwavs liberal and 
timely and without ostentation. If there 
is one trait more than another in the char- 
acter of William AlcXitt which has com- 
manded the attention and respect of his 
neighbors it is his honesty and integrity. 
He has the reputation (jf being the soul of 
honor, a man whose word can be relied upon 
as imi)licitlv as his note or bond. 



EZI^A HARGER. 

The historv of the representative citizens 
of Wexford county. Michigan, would not 
be complete shoulil the name that heads 
this re\-iew be omitted. When the fierce fire 
of the Rebellion w;is rat-inu' throui'houl the 



Southland, threalening to destroy the I'nion, 
he responded with patriotic fervor to the 
call for volunteers and in some of the blood- 
iest battles for which that great war was 
noted he pro\ed his loyalty to the govern- 
ment he lo\'ed so well. During a useful life 
in the region where he lived he labored dili- 
gently to promote the interests of the i)eople, 
working earnestly and with little regard for 
his personal advancement or ease. He was 
devoted to the public welfare and in all of 
his relations his highest ambition was to 
benefit the communitv and advance its stan- 
I'.ard of citizenship. 

I'zra Harger, deceased, was 1:)orn in 
Kent, Portage county, Ohio, in 1838, but 
when a mere child he accompanied his par- 
ents upon their remo\-al to St. Clair, Alle- 
gheny County, I'ennsyhania. At the age of 
about ten years, in 1848. he returned to Kent 
county, Ohio, and in 1852 he went to Jeffer- 
son county. New York. In the fall of the 
same year he came to Lajjcer count}-, Michi- 
gan, where he resided until 1861. when he 
paid a \isit to old friends in I'ulton county, 
Ohio. While there he enlisted, in April, 
18O1, in the Fourteenth Regiment, Ohio 
\'olunteer Infantr}', for ser\-ice during the 
Civil w;u". Ins regiment enlisting for the 
three months service. Cpon his discharge 
he went to Toledo, Ohio, and from there to 
New York state and there re-enlisted, being 
asigned to the Fifteenth United States In- 
fantry, which became a part of the Western 
army. He served with this command until 
February, 1864, when he again re-enlisted 
for three years, receiving his final discharge 
in F"'ebruary, 1867. He was a brave and 
loval soldier and participated in all the 
nir\rclies, skirmishes ;nid battle.^ in which his 
rep'imenl took part. 



538 



WEXFORD COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



L'pon his discharge from llie army, Mr. 
Harger came to the Traverse region in 
searcli of desiral)le land and in August, 1867, 
lie took up a homesteatl of eiglity acres in 
section 12, in what is now Colfax township, 
Wexford county. It was uninipro\ed land, 
hut he went Id w(.)rk Id create nut of it a 
niotlel farm, in which he was successful to 
a high degree. He added to the original 
tract from time to time and erected suhstan- 
"lial and commodious huildings and at length 
found himself the possessor of one of the 
hest farms of the size in the township. He 
was a ])rogressive and enterprising citizen 
and assisted in the organization of the town- 
ship in which he resides. In company with 
William Mears and George Manton. he 
platted tlic town of Alanton and here erected 
the first Ikiusc. In 1S73 he renio\ed fr(jm 
Colfax township to the home which he had 
created here and li\cd here during the re- 
mainder of his days, his last residence heing 
in the town of ^lanton. h'or six terms. 
twelve years, he served as treasurer of Wex- 
ford county, and was also supervisor of Col- 
fax township, and Cedar Creek township, 
and was township treasurer ;ind justice of 
tlie peace. 

Mr. llarger was twice married. ( ^n the 
_'5th of December, 1S67, he was united to 
Miss Mary B;iyes, a natixe of Ohio, and to 
them were horn four children. N'irginia. who 
dieil in childhood: I'"mma, who is the wife 
of Charles II. liostick: Idoni. who is the 
wife of M. J. Compton, and I-'.dilh. Mrs. 
Mary llarger died in hebruary, i88y, and 
he was sul)scr(uently married to Miss Mar- 
garet IJayes, a sister of his first wit'e. One 
child was horn to the secontl union, (iladys 
hy name. Mr. Ilarger's decease, which oc- 
curred in Manton on .\pril 20, i()00, was a 



matter of regret to the people among w hom 
his splendid abilities made him a leader and 
a forceful factor. In every relation of life 
he was a manlv m.'in, broad and liberal in his 
\iews. and won by his courtly manner and 
genial companionship the esteem and ad- 
miration of the peo])le of liis town and 
county. With a character open and trans- 
parent, and a sense of honor strong and de- 
cided, he was a striking exam])le of what 
is noblest and best ni manhood, rmd he will 
always be accorded a high place among 
Wexford's representative citizens. 



S.\MUEL J. WALL. 

Among Wexford's leading men of af- 
f.iirs and distinguished citizens, the name of 
.Sanniel J. Wall, of Cadillac, has long been 
])re-eminent. Of commanding intellectual 
ability and high professional attainments, he 
has lieen a forceful factor in legal circles 
and as a director of thought and moulder of 
opiinons in all matters of a public character, 
his influence being duly recognized and ap- 
preciated by his fellow citizens in t'nis part 
of the stale. 

Samuel J. Wall was born in Kent county, 
Michigan, July 10, 1851, the son of Samuel 
and Mary (.Morris) Wall, both prn-ents na- 
tives of England. Samuel Wall and wife 
were reared and married in the land of their 
birtli and there remained until several of 
their children were born, when they came to 
the T'lu'ted St.ates, soji>nrning for a time 
in Ontario couiUy, Xcw \'ork. About the 
\ear 1850 the\- remoxed to Kent count}', 
]\Iichigan, and settled on .a farm which 
the older sons improved .and culli- 




S. J. WALL. 



WEXFORD COUNTY. MICHIGAN. 



589 



rated. The latlier, being" a tailor, worked 
at his trade in the city of Grand Rapids of 
winter seasons, devoting the rest of tlie year 
to agricultural pursuits. Mrs. W' all bore her 
husband nine children and departed this life 
in the year 1864, Mr. Wall surviving her 
until 189J, when he too was called to the 
other world. 

Samuel J., the youngest of the nine chil- 
dren, spent his youthful da)'s in the cease- 
less rountl of labor which attends farm life 
and at intervals pursued his studies in the 
district schools until he acquired a fair 
knowledge of the fundamental branches. The 
training tlius received was later supplement- 
ed by a course in the Grand Rapids Business 
College, after which he taught school for a 
wliile. but soon abandoned that profession 
fcir (jtlier and more congenial pursuits. Mr. 
Wall l)egan his business career at I.iay Port. 
Huron county, Michigan, where, in partner- 
shii) with James McKay and others, he or- 
ganizetl th.e Bay Port Salt and I^umlier Com- 
pany, of which he was made secretary. Af- 
ter remaining at that place until 1876 he re- 
turned to Cadillac and accepted a clerical 
])ositi(in in the offices of Plarris Brothers, 
luml)cr dealers, and continued in their em- 
])]ov until engaging with another lumber 
iirm near the city two years later. Mean- 
time he devoted his leisure to the study of 
the law, a profession for whicli he had long' 
manifested a decided preference, ruid in the 
spring of 1880 he was admitted to the bar, 
immediately thereafter t^pening an ollicc in 
Cadillac and engag'ing activel\' in the prac- 
tice. The following fall he was elected on 
the Republican ticket prosecuting attorney, 
the duties of which office be discharged one 
term and at the expiration of which lie again 
turned his attention largely to his lumbering 



interests in Lake county, where he made con- 
siderable investment in the year 1880 with a 
partner by the name of Sipley. In 1882 these 
gentlemen enlarged the plant and prosecuted 
the business with the most encouraging suc- 
cess until the following year, when the en- 
tire outfit was destroyed by fire, entailing a 
hea\'y loss, which for a time seriously crip- 
pled them and interfered \-ery materially 
with their plans. Returning to Cadillac after 
this disaster, Mr. Wall resumed the practice 
of the law, which, with various lines of nys- 
celianeous business, engaged his attention 
until 1888, when he was elected county clerk, 
which position he continued to hold by suc- 
cessive re-elections four terms, proving a 
capable and obliging public servant and so 
administering the office as to gain the con- 
fidence and good will of the people. Subse- 
quently, in 1890, he was chosen to represent 
the third ward in the city council, in which 
body he was untiring in his efforts to pro- 
mote the interests of the municipality, and 
four years later he was further honored by 
being elected mayor of Cadillac. Mr. Wall 
served two years in the latter cajiacity and 
made an honorable record as an executive, his 
administration throughout l)eing straight- 
forward, business-like, cretlitable to himself 
and satisfactory to the public. Retiring from 
the office, he resumed the practice of his 
profession, and was thus engag'ed until 1898, 
when he was again called from i)ri\ate life 
by being appointed postmaster of Cadillac, 
the duties of which position be has since dis- 
charged. 

Mr. Wall's almost continuous retention 
in important official stations affords the best 
evidence of the high esteem in which he is 
belli by the people and bis official career 
throughout has fully justified the confidence 



540 



WEXFORD COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



reposed in liim 1>\' his fellow citizens. His 
long residence in Cadillac has enaljled him 
to realize as well perhaps as any other the 
wants of tlie people and with clear brain and 
willing hand he has supplied the demand 
generously and unsparingly. His coming 
here and the existence of the town were al- 
most coeval events and it is not too much 
to claim for him a large share in the com- 
munity's subsequent developmait and pros- 
perity. A western man in the broad sense 
of the word and public spirited in all the 
term implies, he has labored zealously for 
the general welfare, and that his efforts have 
been productive of large and lasting results 
is cheerfully conceded by those at all familiar 
with the history of Wexford county and the 
growth of its flourishing capital city. 

In his achievements as a lawyer Mr. 
Wall is wholly indebted to personal efforts, 
having pursued his preparatory studies dur- 
ing spare hours, snatched from time devoted 
to his regular occupations. He made the 
most of his opportunities under such circum- 
stances and today occupies a respectable 
place among his professional brethren of 
the Cadillac bar, enjoying a lucrative prac- 
tice, which but for the pressing claims of 
his official duties would be far more exten- 
sive than it now is. In politics, as already 
indicated, he is an uncompromising Repub- 
lican and for a number of years past has been 
an influential factor in local matters, tesides 
taking an active interest in state and national 
affairs. He knows the grounds of his belief 
and has carefully studied the differences be- 
tween the two great parties, therefore his 
position is that of an intelligent man who 
reaches conclusions after mature deliberation 
and supports the cause which in his judg- 
ment makes for the best interests of the 



people. As chairman of the Republican coun- 
ty central committee his services were es- 
pecially valuable to the party, and he has 
also frequently figured as a delegate to vari- 
ous nominating conventions, local, district 
and state, manifesting much more than a 
passive interest in their deliberations. Mr. 
Wall's fraternal relations are represented by 
the Masonic order and the Knights of Pyth- 
ias, both of which he recognizes as impor- 
tant agencies for man's moral good and so- 
cial advancement. 

Mr. Wall is a married man and the 
father of four children, whose names are 
Ruth, Marjorie, Stewart and Morris. His 
wife was formerly Miss Caroline Sipley, of 
.^nn .\rbor, Michigan, and the ceremony 
by w hich it was changed to the one she now 
bears was solemnized in the vear 1881. 



LYMAX E. PARKER. 

An enumeration of the men of the pres- 
ent 'lay who ha\e won success and recogni- 
tion for themselves and at the same time 
have honored the locality in which they re- 
side would be incomplete without due no- 
lice oi the subject of this rexiew, Lyman 
E. Parker. Clearly defined purpose and 
consecutive effort have been among his more 
prominent characteristics and his standing 
today as one of Selma township's most en- 
terprising agriculturists and one of the 
county's truly representati\e citizens is 
cheerfully conceded by all who know him. 
Identified with every enterprise having for 
its object the good of the community, taking 
a lively interest in the public aft'airs of his 
tf >\\ nship anil count}', he has sought by every 
means at his command to promote the 



IVEXFORD COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



541 



country's material prosperit)' and adxance 
the standard of its citizenship. 

L3'man E. Parker, who resiiles on a part 
of section 24, Selma township, Wexford 
county, was born in \\'y()niing county, New 
York, August 26, 1847. When he was two 
years okl his parents nio\ed to Erie county. 
New York, where tiiey took \\\^ their resi- 
dence and engaged in farming. There he 
grew to manhoock received a fair education 
and acquired a knowledge of the mercan- 
tile-business. In starting out in the world 
to provide for himself he went into Catta- 
raugus county. New York, where he estab- 
lished himself in business and wdiere he pros- 
pered for two years. Having made up his 
mind tliat there were better opportunities in 
his line in the west, he made all necessary 
arrangements and mo\ed to Coopersville, 
Ottawa county, Michigan, where he opened 
out in the mercantile business and did a 
thrix'ing trade for four years. He then sold 
out and moved to Dorr, Allegan county, 
Michigan, where he engaged in the hardware 
business, which he continued until January, 
1882, when he came to AVexford county. 
Some time previously he had purchased 
eighty acres of land in section 24, Selma 
township, though he later sold forty acres of 
this. On this tract he established a home and 
it has been the place of residence of the fam- 
ily since. Seventy-six acres more have 
been purchased since, making a snug farm 
f>f one hundred and twelve acres, .\bout 
sixty acres have been cleared and the i)lace 
is well improved, being all that one could de- 
sire in a modest, comfortal)le home. 

In Sardinia, Erie count)'. New ^'()rk, on 
the 25th day of December, 1866, Lyman E. 
Parker was united in marriage to Miss Hat- 
tie L. Hosmer, a nati\c of New "S'ork, burn 



in Erie county, .\pril 10, 1847. She has 
ljrci\en herself an amiable, worthy wife who 
lias been a most valuable assistant to her 
husband in his various business ventures. 
They first engaged m housekeeping, a num- 
ber of years, in their native state and the 
wife accompanied the husband in his remo\al 
to Michigan. They are the parents of four 
children, viz : Cora M., Grace M., Clarence 
U. and Ruth E. Cora, who had taught in 
We.xford county, was the wife of A. E. 
Tilyon, resided in Huntsville, Alabama, and 
died December 25, 1891, wdien thirty-two 
years of age. Grace M. is the wife of Or- 
lean Denike and resides in Selma township. 

Ever since he became a citizen of Wex- 
ford county Lyman E. Parker has taken an 
active i)art in all matters pertaining to the 
welfare and development of the locality. He 
lias served as justice of the peace a number 
of years, discharging the duties of that po- 
sition most efliciently. He has also served 
as township clerk and township treasurer for 
two terms and has always been found faith- 
ful and trustworthy in all that he has under- 
taken. He is a member of Lodge No. 331, 
Free and Accepted Masons, at Cadillac, and 
takes an active interest in the work. He 
;uk1 his wife are both members of the church 
(if the Disciples of Christ. Both are persons 
whose standing in the county is above re- 
jiroach, the ]iarents of a worthy familv anrl 
the occupants of a home that is the model 
of domestic courtcs\- and refinement. 



CARL 



PETERSON. 



When it comes lo thrift, the practice of 
economy and the accumulation of property 
and wealth the averaw nati\-e .American 



542 



WEXFORD COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



does not seem to he able to licar favorable 
comparison with the natives of otlier climes 
who take up their abode in the United States. 
True, most of the really rich men of Amer- 
ica arc "to the manner horn." hut. in pro- 
portion to their number, people of foreign 
birth are j)ossessed of much more of the 
wealth of the nation than the native-born 
citizens, if the gigantic corporations and the 
millionaires are excluded. There can be no 
doubt that the difference in training of the 
two classes produces different results. Pru- 
dence and economy is the rule with the one ; 
lavish expenditure the policy of the other. 
America is largely peopled with wealth pro- 
ducers and accumulators from other shores. 
Nearly every country in Europe has contrib- 
uted to the grand total and the sous of Swed- 
en are not the least among the number. The 
subject of this sketch, Carl B. Peterson, who 
resides on section 35, Clam Lake township, 
is one of the thrifty sons of Sweden who 
ha\e resided in .\merica nearly a (|uarter of 
a century. By industry and frugality he 
has accumulated a comfortable estate, and 
not vet being bowed down by the weight of 
\ears. it is i|uite likely that he will yet adtl 
many thousands more to his possessions. 

As before indicated, Carl B. Peterson is 
a native of Sweden. He was born June y. 
1855, and contiinied to reside in the country 
of his birth until he arrived at the age of 
twenty-seven years. Tiie prevailing condi- 
tions in his nali\e land were not entirely 
agreeable to him and he yearned for a 
wider field and belter opportunities, .\fter 
casting about for some time for a location, 
he decided that .\merica afforded the best 
field for operation. In 1882. when twenty- 
seven years of age, lie emigrated to .\merica. 
remained a few months in Cleveland. Ohio, 



and then came to W'e.xford county, Michi- 
gan, and piuxha.sed eighty acres in section 
35, (.lam Lake township, on which he set- 
tled and which has been the family home to 
the present time. To the original purchase 
he has added eighty acres more and is now 
the owner of a fine fertile quarter section, 
sixty acres of which is impro\'efl and in a 
fine state of cultivation. 

In Muskegon. Michigan, Carl B. Peter- 
son was united in marriage to Miss Minnie 
.Anderson, a native of Sweden, a woman of 
many noble qualities and sterling virtues. 
They immediately took up their abode upon 
the farm on section 35. antl that has been 
their residence to the pre.sent time. To Mr. 
and Mrs. I^eterson four children have been 
born, viz: Joseph, Carl A.. Oscar and 
David. The family stands well in the 
townsliip of their residence and enjoy an 
enviable reputation for thrift and industry 
and every element that constitutes good citi- 
zenship. 



GEORGE F. WILLLvMS. 

The two most strongly marked charac- 
teristics of toth the east and the west are 
combined in the residents of the section of 
country of which this volume treats. The 
enthusiastic enterprise which overleaps all ob- 
stacles and makes possible almost any under- 
taking in the comparati\'ely new and vigor- 
ous western states is here tempered by the 
stable and more careful policy that we have 
borrowed from our eastern neighbors, and 
the combination is one of peculiar force and 
poxyer. It has been the means of placing 
this section of the country on a par with the 
older east, at the same time producing a cer- 



WEXFORD COUNTY. MICHIGAN. 



543 



tainty and reliability in business affairs which 
is frequently lacking in the west. This 
happy combination of characteristics is pos- 
sessed by the subject of this sketch, George 
F. U'illiams, one of the prominent and en- 
terprising business men of Manton, Wexford 
county, Michigan. 

Mr. Williams is a native of Canada, hav- 
ing been born on tlie J_'d of August, 1859. 
}fe is the son of James and faulina (Pritch- 
ard) \\'illiams. who were Ixitli natix'es oi 
England, in which country they were reared 
and were there married. The father died 
at Shelby, Michigan, in 1881, at the age of 
sixty-one years. The mother, who was 
bom in 1822, is still living and makes her 
home with the subject. George I". Williams 
remoxed from Canada with his parents in 
J 864 and located at Aurora, Illinois, and two 
.years later they renin\ed to Montague, 
Michigan, where the father engaged in the 
business of Ium])ering. There the subject 
was given- the opportunity of attending 
school, but his studies were interrupted in 
1871, when the family removed to Shelby, 
Oceana county, Michigan, where his father 
and his brothers, Jeremiah, James H. and 
Walter S., engaged in the mercantile, lum- 
bering and saw-mill business. In the new 
home the subject, with a younger brother, 
Albert, was again permitted to attend school, 
though he was also employed at odd times 
in the mill. In the spring of 1881. upon the 
death of his father, ^Ir. Williams assisted 
his brother Walter in conducting a planing 
and saw-mill. His first business venture on 
his own account was the purchase of a lot 
in the village of Shelby, on which he built 
a brick \-eneered block, in conjunction with 
a Mr. I'armentcr. who owned, die adjoin- 
ing lot, the two jointly buikling the division 



wall. In 1 88 1 Mr. Williams was united in 
mariage with Miss Emma Graves, of Shelby, 
and the next year he moved to Manton, 
where their only son, Clarence F., was born, 
October i, 1883. In 1883 Mr. Williams 
engaged in the business of getting out and 
shipping last blocks and about the same 
time entered into partnership with his 
brother James H. in a general store. The 
last named business was sold out. however, 
soon afterwards and Mr. Williams devoted 
his attention solelx' to the last business, 
whicli was not. however, on a very large 
scale. .\t tlie outset of his career there oc- 
curred one of those incidents which might 
have easily discouraged a more timid or 
less resolute man. When he arrived in 
Manton he possessed about one thousand 
dollars and it was partially invested in the 
lirst shipment of last lilocks which he made 
t<i a Chicago jjarty. The latter party failed 
and the subject was unable to realize a cent 
i,n the transaction, which, with other unfor- 
tunate transactions, left iiim seriously in 
debt. The outlook was certainly dis- 
couraging, but Mr. Williams had a thorough 
insight into the last block business and felt 
that in that line lay his future success. In 
Wexford county lay a large quantity of 
good maple timber suitable for his purposes 
and he determined to establish himself him- 
self at Manton and secure a few good cus- 
tomers for rough turned last blocks. In 
1886 lie induced his brother. Walter S., to 
go in with him and, renting a ten-horse power 
engine and boiler, the two brothers formed a 
company known as Williams Brothers and 
started a factory. The factory was a small 
one and the two brothers did all the manual 
labor connected with the maimfacture, 
George E. acting as engineer and buying 



5U 



WEXFORD COUNTY. MICHIGAN. 



llie stock, while Walter S. did the turning. 
They continued to devote their undivided at- 
tention to their business and were at length 
rewarded by a substantial and gratifying in- 
crease in their Iiusiness, which compelled 
them to employ others to do the work. At 
one time they also operated a saw-mill in 
conjunction with the last block factory. The 
business continued to grow rapidly and in 
1897 had reached such proportions that it 
was deemed advisable to incorporate a stock 
C(>mi)any. which was done under the name of 
the Williams Brothers Company, with a capi- 
tal stock of thirty-seven thousand dollars. 
George F. Williams was principal stockhohl- 
er and was chosen secretary, treasurer and 
manager, the other stockholders being \\''al- 
ter S. and Albert E. Williams, brothers of 
the subject, and William A. Hall, a nephew. 
I'nder the new arrangement they found it 
possible to extend their operations and soon 
started a branch factory at Mesick, Michi- 
gan, opened a general store at Manton, and 
also made large purchases of hardwood tim- 
ber, including the land on which it stood. \\t 
tlie summer of 190J the capital stock of the 
company was increased to se\enty-five 
thousand dollars, the sul)ject taking the 
larger portion of the stock and the other 
.stockholders being Walter S. Williams, Al- 
bert E. Williams, Clarence F., the subject's 
son, Marty L. Williams, son of Walter S., 
William A. Hall, Bruce Green and H. M. 
Billings. The subject was still retained as the 
active manager of the company's interests 
and their holdings were still further extend- 
ed, they buying a large tract of timber land 
along ihc .\nn .\rbor Railroad and building 
a saw-mill and last block factf)ry at Cadil- 
lac. The manufacturing of last blocks wa^ 
begun on a modest scale, but has grown to 



mammoth proportions,- necessitating the em- 
ployment of over one hundred men and the 
output amounting to one and a half million 
last blocks per year. In the spring of 1902 
the general store was discontinued and the 
Williams Mercantile Company was organ- 
ized, with a capital stock of twelve thou- 
sand dollars, the officers of the new company 
being as follows : President, (jeorge F. 
Williams; vice-president, Walter S. Will- 
iams ; secretary, M. J. Compton ; treasurer. 
Reynold Swanson, these gentlemen holding 
all the stock. In 1902 Mr. Williams also 
was instrumental in organizing the Mantun 
Development Association, with a capital 
stock of six thousand dollars. He was chosen 
president of the association, the other stock- 
holders being Clarence F. Williams, H. M. 
Billings, James R. Oaks. Dr. V. F. Huntley, 
and J. E. Jones. In addition to all the busi- 
ness enterprises which have been here men- 
tioned, Mr. Williams also owns considerable 
real estate in Wexford county, including a 
beautiful home and several houses and lots 
in the village of Manton. He came to the 
village at a time when it gave little ])romise 
of becoming the busy and thriving town it 
is today, and it has been largelv through his 
influence and energy that the town has as- 
sumed the commercial importance that it 
occupies today. Mr. Williams has been 
honored by his fellow citizens with several 
positions of honor, having been one year 
village president, si.K years a member of the 
village council, four years a member of the 
school board and four years township clerk. 
He is affiliated with the Republican party, of 
w liich he is a warm supporter, and he served 
line year as chairman of the townshi]) cum- 
mittee. Fraternallv he is a nieml)er nf the 
following orders: l-"ree and Accepted Ma- 



WEXFORD COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



546 



S(jns. Independent Order of Odd Fellows, 
Knights of Pythias. Order of the Eastern 
Star, and in the Masonic order he is a 
Knight Templar and also has taken the de- 
grees of the IVIx'Stic Shrine. 

In 1894 Air. \\ illiams \v;ls married to 
Miss Eliza Gaunt, of Manton, a daughter of 
Austin and Mary (Johnson) Gaunt, and horn 
June 2, 1866. By his courteous manners, 
genial disposition and genuine worth Air. 
Williams has won a warm place in the hearts 
of all who know him and he and his wife 
are the center of a large circle of warm and 
loval friends. 



J.AMES H. BAKER. 

There are few states in the union where 
enterprise is better appreciated or industry 
more liberally remunerated than in Michi- 
gan. This is especially true of that j)ortion 
of the state known as the northern part of 
the southern peninsula, wherein is located 
the fertile and productive county of Wex- 
ford. Youth and inexperience is no bar to 
success in that favored region, and it is noth- 
ing uncommon there to encounter beardless 
lioys at the head of enterprises of such mag- 
nitude as would deter old veterans from un- 
dertaking them in more conservative sections 
of the land. James H. Baker, of the firm of 
Phelps & Baker, millers and ])n)duce dealers 
of Manton, is a splendid specimen of the 
shrewdness, tact and commercial foresight 
which can be displaved in this part of the 
country by a lad who had scarcely ;ittained 
his majority. In the year 1889, when barely 
twenty-one years old, he took upon himself 
as pro])rietor the care and operation of a 



flouring-mill at Manton, with all of the busi- 
ness management incident to the conduct of 
such an enterprise, and has attained an en- 
\iable success in each and every department 
of his undertaking. 

James H. Baker was born at Dorr, Ale- 
gan county, Alichigan, October 16, 1868. 
His parents were tlenry M. and Catherine 
( Butcher) Baker, the former being by occu- 
pation a machinist and millwright. Pie 
came to Alanton in April, 1882, and for 
about se\en \-ears operated the flouring-mill 
at that ])lace. In 1889, on account of failing 
health, he was obliged to retire from active 
business, which, however, did not improve 
his physicial condition and he died March 
18, 1892, being then in the fifty-seventh year 
of his age. His faithful wife is still living, 
residing with her children, in Manton. To 
them six children were born, of whom the 
subject of this sketch was the oldest child 
and only son. 

The early years of the life of James PI. 
Baker were spent in his native county and 
did not differ materially from the youth of 
other kills of the same age and time, except 
that he had acquired a very thorough knowl- 
edge of all the common school branches of 
learning at an early age. Under the tuition 
of his father he applied himself to securing 
a knowledge of machinery and milling. 
When the father first came to Manton his son 
accompanied him and during the seven years 
that the parent operated the mill there the boy 
was his constant attendant and helper. 
When the physical condition of his father 
compelled him to retire in 1889, so well had 
the son learned his lessons in mechanism 
that he easily stepped into his parent's place, 
and the operation of the mil! and the busi- 



546 



WEXFORD COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



ness connected with it went on witliout a stop 
or friction. In 1892 the subject formed a 
partnersliip with C. D. Phelps, under the 
firm name of Phelps & Baker, and from that 
time to tlie jjresent they have conducted a 
very successful business, year after year in- 
creasing their patronage and steadily adding 
to their capital. 

July 3, 1897, James H. Baker was united 
in marriage to Miss Sarah Xewland, a na- 
tive of Ohio, born June 3, 1869. Her parents 

were Richard and Newland, who 

were among the early settlers of Mairton. 
Having assumed new and very important 
responsibilities, the subject a])plied himself 
to the business of his choice with a keener 
zest. They not only rebuilt the nld mill, 
but in 1900, to accommodate their increased 
patronage and that they might have a nian- 
ufactiu^ing plant that is strictly up to date, 
they erected an entirely new mill on the most 
iriiproved plan, with the very latest machin- 
ery and most imj^roved processes and with 
a capacity of seventy barrels daily. The old 
mill they still retain intact, and it is almost 
constantly in oi)eration on rough grinding, 
meal, fee<l etc. The capacity of both mills 
will exceed one hundred barrels daily. In 
the summer of 1902 the firm embarked in the 
produce Inisiness. 'I hey established a large 
warehouse at Alanton. and buy and ship all 
kinds of produce. The business is yet in its 
infancy, but everything indicates that their 
success in this new line will be all that they 
could desire. In the conduct of all of his af- 
fairs ^Ir. liaker is slrictlv business-like; nn 
iletail. no matter Imw trixial, escapes his at- 
tention, and each and e\ery department of the 
business, under his care and direction, glides 
along as smoothly as the machinery of his 
mills. 



AAROX F. ANDERSON. 

Into the complex fabric of our national 
commonwealth ha\e entered elements rep- 
resenting every civilized nation on the globe, 
each element ha\ing its part in conserving the 
textile strength of the composite whole, the 
entirety constituting the grandest republic 
the world has e\cr known. Among tho.se 
from foreign lands seeking new homes and 
working out new destinies on American soil, 
the strong, stalwart, mentally alert sons of 
Scandinavia have been especially prominent 
in that they have brinight with them these 
noble attributes of manhood and that love 
of i)ersonal freedom for which the people of 
the northland ha\e long been distinguished 
and wliich constitute such important ele- 
ments of true .\merican citizenship. The 
well-known business man whose name intro- 
duces this .sketch is a representative of the 
above nationality and as such worthily up- 
holds the honor of his fatherland, although 
a lover of his adoi)ted country and to all in- 
terests and ])ur])oses as loyal a citizen of the 
United States as an American to the manner 
born. Aaron Frederick Anderson hails from 
far-away Sweden, where his birth occurred 
on the 8th day of March. 1858. His father 
being a tiller of the soil, he was reared to 
agricultural pursuits and assisted to run the 
home farm until his twentieth vear, mean- 
while recei\ing a good education in the com- 
mon schools, and when not engaged in the 
fields, learning the shoemaker's trade, at 
which in i\uc time he became an efficient 
workman. Thinking to better his condition 
in a country abounding in more favorable 
opportunities than jjrevailed in his nati\e 
land, Mr. Anderson, in 1878, came to the 
United States, making his way direct to Cad- 




A ANDERSON. 



J VEX FORD COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



547 



iliac, JMichigan, where he Ijegan working at 
his trade. Meeting with encouraging suc- 
cess from the start, he was induced after 
a few years to engage in tlie general boot and 
shoe business; accordingly, in 1885, he pur- 
chased a full line of goods, and in due time 
succeeded in building up a lucrative trade, 
which was successfully conducted until 1901. 
Meanwhile, in 1897, he became interested 
in the lumber industry and, to better prose- 
cute the same, disptised of his mercantile 
business in 1901, since which time his atten- 
tion has been exclusively devoted to Inmljer- 
ing. with fortunate financial results. 

Mr. .Anderson is essentially a business 
man, possessing the sotmd judgment and 
clear insight necessary to success in large 
and important undertakings. With compar- 
atively no outside assistance, he has steadily 
pursued his May from a modest beginning 
until he now occupies a conspicuous place 
among the enterprising and well-to-do men 
of his adopted city. Strong determination, 
j)erseverance in the pursuit of an honorable 
purpose, unflagging energy and careful man- 
agement, are among the salient features of 
his career and his life stands in unmistal--:a- 
ble evidence that success is not a matter of 
genius or the result of fortune's favors, but 
is more the outcome of earnest and well- 
directed endeavor. 

Mr. Anderson was married in Cadillac 
on the 26th of September, 1882, to Miss 
Addie (jreenburg, the union resulting in the 
birth of six children, namely: Fred W., 
Clarence E., Ester E., Ruth F.," Helen M. 
and Rachel D., the second of the family dy- 
ing at the age of twelve years. Mr. Ander- 
son is an influential member of the Swedish 
Ba])tist church of Cadillac, and contributes 
liberally to its material support. I'ersonallv 



he is quite popular, possessing in a marked 
degree the characteristics which win antl re- 
tain warm friendships and which render one 
a favorite in the social circle. He is public 
spirited and progressive, deeply mterested in 
the welfare of the cominuin'ty and does all 
williin his power for its advancement along 
material, social, educational and moral lines. 
His business efforts, as already stated, have 
been crowned with a large measure of suc- 
cess and it is no fulsome praise to state that 
no citizen of Cadillac stands higher in the 
confidence and esteem of the people or has 
shown himself more worthy of pul)lic re- 
garil. Mr. Anderson has worthily upheld 
an honored ancestral name and his loyalty 
to friends and de\-<)tion to family mark him 
a true man and an upright citizen. 



HORACE G. HUTZLER. 

It is a well-recognized fact that the most 
powerful factor and influence in shaping antl 
controlling public life is the press. Ir 
reaches a greater number of people than 
any other agency and thus has al\\a}'s been 
and, in the hands of ])ersons competent to 
direct it, always will be a most important 
factor in molding public oi)inion and shaping 
the ilestiny of a nation. The gentleman to a 
lirief review of whose life these lines are 
devoted is prominently connected with the 
journalism of Wxxford county, and at this 
time is editor and publisher of the Manton 
\\'eekly Tribune, one of the most popular 
papers of the county, comparing favorably 
w ith the best local sheets in this section of the ' 
state as regards news, editorial rd)ilil_\- and 
mechanical execution. The countv recog- 



548 



IV EX FORD COUNTY. MICHIGAN. 



nizes in Mr. Hutzler not only one of the keen- 
est newspaper men, but also a representative 
citizen, whose interest in all that affects the 
general welfare has been of such a character 
as to win for him a high place in the confi- 
dence and esteem of the people. 

Horace G. Hutzler was born in Imquois, 
Jroquois county, Illinois, on the lOth nf Sep- 
tember, 1863. and is the son of L)a\ id Davis 
and Charlotte (Church) Hutzler. He 
is of German-Welth descent, his emigrant 
ancestors first settling in Virginia, in which 
state all his grandparents were born. His 
mother's grantlfather, Henry Shipman, was 
a relative and pioneer companion of the cele- 
brated frontiersman, Daniel Boone, and to- 
gether they settled in the wilds of Kentucky. 
The subject's father is a nati\"e of Ohio and 
his mother of Illinois. At the time of the 
outbreak of hostilities between the north and 
south, in 1861, they were prosperous farmers 
in Iroquois county, Illinois, but the father, 
feeling that his country needed his services 
at the front, left his family and the peaceful 
pursuits of civil life and went to the front, 
where for four years he fought in the defense 
of Old Glory and the \ indication of the prin- 
ciple of central go\ernment. His wife died 
in Manton about nine years ago, but he still 
resides at that place at the age of seventy- 
nine years, making his home with a daughter, 
enjoying the resjject and esteem of all who 
know him. 

The subject of this sketch at the close of 
the Civil war was brought bv his parents to 
Berrien count}', ^Michigan, where his boy- 
hood days were passed, lie was permitted 
to attend school during the winter months. 
but during the summers was emi)loyed on 
the farm and in getting out timber, his father 
being engaged in the shipping of the latter. 



It was necessary for him to walk to New 
Troy, two and a half miles distant, in order 
to attend school, but he was of a. studious 
disposition, and made die most of his op- 
portunities, so that eventually he became a 
fairly well-informed lad. This training has 
since been liberally supplemented by wide 
reading and a close observation of men and 
events, and today there are few men in this 
locality better informed in a general sense 
than is the subject. At the age of twelve 
he removed with his parents to Indiana, set- 
tling near \\'arsaw, in Kosciusko county, 
where his teens were passed, partly in at- 
tendance at scIkkjI and in the capacity of 
salesman. At the age of nineteen years Mr. 
Hutzler went to Grand Rapids. Michigan, 
where he was engaged as a dry goods sales- 
man, and at the same ti;ne he attended night 
school and a commercial college. Subse- 
c|uently he came to Manton, where his par- 
ents had located some years previously, and 
shorth^ afterward entered the Union Law- 
College at Chicago, it being his intention at 
that time to take up the practice of law as 
his life work. However, because of impaired 
liealth. he was compelled to relinquish these 
plans, and the following two years were 
passed in the capacity of traveling salesman, 
with the object in view primarily of bene- 
fiting his health. Returning to Manton in 
1892. he shortly afterward purchased the 
Manton Tribune and at once assumed the 
active management of the paper. He is a 
ready and facile writer, wiekling a trenchant 
pen. and through the columns of the Tribune 
he has exerted a powerful and far-reaching 
inthience on all (juestions which ha\e become 
of public im])ortance. By pen and personal 
inlluence he has been an earnest advocate of 
all mo\enients which ha\e tended to the 



WEXFORD COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



549 



betlerment of the people of his community 
and the upbuilding of the city, materially or 
morally. Of the common people, he is a 
lover of justice and equity and a foe to class 
legislation, and is also an earnest ad\'ocate 
of municipal ownership of public institutions. 
In politics he is a stanch Republican, a cham- 
pion of the protective tariff system and a 
standard dollar of intrinsic \alue. Since set- 
tling in ]\Ianton Air. Hut/Jer has several 
times been honored by his party with offices 
u\ trust and responsibility, having served 
se\eral years as village clerk, several years 
as township clerk, being at the present time a 
member of the common council, township 
clerk and deputy state oil inspector for the 
twenty-first district, having recei\ed the lat- 
ter appointment at the hands of Goxernor 
Bliss in July, 1901. 

In 1895 Mr. Hutzler was united in mar- 
riage with Miss Lillian Bostich, of Manton, 
and they have three children, Ralph Emer- 
son, W'auneta M. and Damon. Fraternally 
Mr. Hutzler is connected with the Knights 
of the Maccabees, of which he is past com- 
mander ; the Ancient Order of United Work- 
men, of which he is past master workman ; 
the Modern Woodmen of America, of which 
he is one of the managers, and with the 
Knights of Pythias, of which he is chancellor 
commander. 



GEORGE S. GRAHAM. 

The gentleman wIkisc name intmduces 
this article is one of the oldest living settlers 
of Wexford county, and during a continuous 
residence of nearly a third of a century his 
life has been very closely identified with the 



growth and development of the section of 
the C()untr\- in which liis ])resent home is 
situated, (jeorge S. (iraliam is a citizen of 
the United States by adoption, being a native 
of Canada, born December i, 1839. in Sim- 
coe county. Ontario. His father being a 
farmer, he was reared in close touch with 
nature and early became accustomed to the 
labors and wholesome experiences which at- 
tend life under such circumstances. I'ntd 
fifteen years old he lixed in the counties of 
Simcoe and Holdeman. but at that age came 
to the county of Perth, where he remained 
until changing his residence, in 1871, to 
Wexford county, Michigan. On coming to 
this country Mr. Graham took up a home- 
stead of eighty acres in section 10, Clam Lake 
township, and at once addressed himself to 
the task of its improvement, working early 
and late to provide a comfortable livelihood 
for his family and prepare a home in which 
to spend his declining years. By well-direct- 
ed energv he soon had the greater part of 
his land in cultivation, and l)y judiciously 
investing his surplus earnings from time to 
time added to his real estate until he now 
has land to the amount of two hundred acres, 
all finely situated and well adapted to general 
farming and fruit raising. As an agricultur- 
ist Mr. Graham easily ranks with the most 
enterprising and successful of his fellow-citi- 
zens similarly engaged, being progressive in 
liis methods and possessing the ability and 
tact to take advantage of circumtances and 
mold them to suit his ])urposes. As already 
stated, he was one of Wexford's early pio- 
neers, and not long after his arrival he as- 
sisted in building the first saw-mill at Clam 
Lake, besides in many other ways contribut- 
ing to the early growth and material 
advancement of the village and adjacent 



550 



jy EX FORD COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



country. His industry, directed in proper 
channels, has made him prosperous, and, as 
indicated in a ])receding paragrapli, he is 
now well situated in life to enjoy everything, 
ha\'ing a comfortable home, witli a sutii- 
ciency of this world's goods to enable him 
to spend the remainder of his days free from 
care. 

On the 29th of April. 1808, in Welling- 
ton county, Ontario, Mr. Graham was unitC'l 
in marriage witii Miss Eliza Bridge, who 
was born in Lower Canada, July 22, 1850. 
To this union seven children have been born, 
of whom the following are living: Tiiomas 
R., George F., William J. and Albert E. Of 
the deceased menilicrs <il the family tliree 
died wiien quite young. .\ daughter by the 
name of Maggie M. grew to maturity, became 
the wife of .\ndrew Hawthorne and de])artcd 
this life in Missaukee county, Michig-'ui, on 
.April I of the year 1900. Mr. and Mrs. 
Graham are zealous members of tlu- Presby- 
terian ciiurch, and their dail\' lixes beauti- 
fully exemplify the faith which they ])rofess. 
Tliev are widelv known for their man\- \ir- 
tures, among whicli hospitalitv is wurtln- of 
especial mention. Their door is e\er open td 
the needy, and in crossing its threshold the 
guest is sure of a welcome which at once puts 
him at his ease and in departing carries witii 
him sweet remembrances of the whole-souled 
host and hostess. 

In his relations with the world Mr. Gra- 
ham is ever ready to lend a helping h;uid to 
others and to give his inllucnce and material 
support to rdl enterjirises for the general 
welfare of the communit)-. Few men of the 
county are as well known or as po])ular. 1 lis 
integrity lias al\va\s been abo\e rejirojch 
and his n;une is s)-non_\ mi>us with ail tb;il is 
correct in manh<iod .and ennobling in citizen- 



ship. He has been successful beyond the 
average, and, lieing indebted to no one but 
himself for his rise in the world, his career 
may be studied with protit by the young man 
iust starting on the road to fortune. 



CHARLES H. BOSTICK. 

It is not an easy task to descrilie ade- 
quately a man who has led an emniently 
active and useful life and who has attained 
a position i>f relatixe distinction in the com- 
munity with which his interests are allied. 
But biogra])hy ilnds its most perfect justihca- 
tion, nevertheless, in the tracing and record- 
ing of such a life history. It is. then, with 
a full ai)i)reciation of all that is demanded 
and of the painstaking scrutiny tliat must be 
accorded each statement, and yet with a feel- 
ing of satisfaction, that the writer essays the 
task of touching briefly upon the details of 
such a record as has been that of the honored 
subject whose life now comes under review — 
Charles H. Bostick, of Manton. Wexford 
county, Michigan. 

Charles H. Bostick is a nati\e of the 
state of Micliigan, having first seen the light 
of day at New Troy, Berrien county, on the 
18th of January, 1869. His parents were 
Dr. Charles II. and S.arah .\. (Merry- 
lield) Bostick, the former a native of New 
York state, born May i,^. 1825. and the lat- 
ter born August 29. 1823, at New \ (jrk. 
They came from New l^-o\', Berrien county, 
to Manton in 18S0 for the purpose of visiting 
a son. Dr. John C. Bostick, and, being pleased 
with the ccinulry. they located permanently 
at .Manlmi in i88j. The father continued 
in the active practice of his profession up to 



WEXFORD COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



551 



within two years of his death, when, because 
of faihng- heakh. he was compeHed to rehn- 
quish Ills practice. His death occurred at 
IManton August 5. 1896. He and his wife 
were the parents of twelve cliikh'en, six sons 
and six daiighters, of whom the sul)ject was 
the eleventh in the order of birtli. 

Charles H. Bostick was educated pri- 
marily in the schools of Xcw Tmy and later 
at ^lanton, having accompanied his parents 
upon their removal to this place in i88j. 
Upon completing his common school train- 
ing he was emplo\ed for about three years in 
the drug store of his brother, Dr. John C. 
Bostick, and then for about two years en- 
gaged at various occupations. He then took 
a course of study in the department of phar- 
macy at the University of Michigan at Ann 
Arljor, and upon his return home was again 
employed in his broiher's drug store, where 
he remained until 1S95, when he purchased 
an interest in the business, and has since 
had the active management of the store. 
He is a thorough and practical pharmacist, 
and particularly well-equipped in a knowl- 
edge of all that goes to the making of a capa- 
ble prescription druggist. In 1891, upon 
examination by the state board of phar- 
macy, he was given a certificate as a pharma- 
cist. His store is well supplied with a full 
hne of drugs, besides which he keeps a large 
assortment of sundries such as are usually 
to be obtained in a drug store. By his cour- 
teous manners and his evident desire to please 
his customers he has won their conhdence 
and commands a large and profitable busi- 
ness. In company with his brother. Dr. John 
C, he erected the block known as the Bost- 
wick block, one of tlie most sulwtantial and 
liest arranged public Iniildings in the town. 

In September, 1888, Mv. Bostwick was 



united in marriage with Miss Emma L. Har- 
ger. who was born October 3. 1870, the 
daughter of Ezra and Mary (Bayes) 
Harger. Mrs. Bostick was born in Colfax 
township, this county, and was reared there 
and in Manton. To her union with Mr. 
Bostick have been born five children — Ray 
E.. Rex, Kenneth, Herbert and Mary. Po- 
litically Mr. Bostick is identified with the 
Republican i>arty, in which he takes a deep 
interest. He has been honored by his fellow 
citizens with several offices of public tru.st 
and responsibility, having been village treas- 
urer of Manton two terms, village clerk for 
two terms, and served five terms as village 
president. In all these positions he has per- 
formed his duties in a manner highly cred- 
itable to himself and to the entire satisfaction 
of his fellow citizens. Fraternally he is con- 
nected with the Maconic fraternity, holding 
membership in Manton Lodge No. 347. He 
has attained the thirty-second degree in Ma- 
sonry in Dewitt Clint(_)n Consistory, Ancient 
Accepted Scottish Rite, and belongs to Sala- 
din Temple, .\ncient Arabic' Order Nobles of 
the Mvstic Shrine, at (irand Rapids. He is 
also a member of Cedar Creek Lodge No. 
J 47, Knights of I'ytbias, Drasmic Order 
Knights of Khorassan No 155, of Traverse 
City, and with Manton Tent No. 220, 
Knights of the Maccaljees. Mr. and Mrs. 
ijostick are deservedly popular and are the 
center of a large social circle. 



JOHONN.\S ANDERSON. 

Among the Swedish-. \merican residents 
of Clam Lake township is numbered Johon- 
nas Anderson, who has made bis home in 



552 



WEXFORD COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



Wexford county for almost a third of a 
century, liaving arrived here in 1872. His 
interests liave since heen identified with this 
section of the state and tlu'out;h tlie greater 
part of the time he has followed farming, 
his lahors heing attended with good results. 
Mr. .Anderson's natal day was February 
7, 1842, and his birth place Sweden. In 
that country he was reared and educated, 
and when he began earning his own living 
he took up farm work, which claimed his 
attention until 1871, when, at the age of 
twenty-nine years, he resolved to try his for- 
tune in .\merica. His fellow countrymen 
who had come to the L'nited States had sent 
back favorable reports of the opportunities 
afforded in this land and hoping to better 
his financial condition, Mr, Anderson crossed 
the briny deep, landing in New York city 
April 27, 1871. For one year he remained 
in the east and in the spring of 1872 arrived 
in Wexford county, Michigan, first going to 
the village of Clam Lake, which is now the 
city of Cadillac and the county seat. He 
began earning his livelihood here liy work- 
ing on the railroad and was thus employed 
for several months. 1 le afterwards worked 
in saw-mills f(jr about a year, and at the end 
of that time settled on the farm on which 
he now lives in Clam Lake townshij). His 
savings he invested in a tract of forty acres 
of land and with characteristic energy he 
began its de\eloi)ment. It was not long be- 
fore richl\- cultivated fields began to return 
good harvests and the annual sales of his 
farm products brnught him a desirable in- 
come. This he invested in more land and 
he now has one hundred and forty-five 
acres, of which sixty acres lies in Clam Lake 
township. U^ion the home farm he has 
erected good buildings and evervlhing about 



the place is kept in repair, while neatness 
and thrift characterize his labors and have 
been the foundation ujjon which be has 
builded his success. 

After leaving his nati\e country Mr. 
Anderson was imited in marriage to Miss 
Elna Xelson, a native of Sweden. l)orn May 
Ci. 1850, unto them have been born eleven 
children. Delia, born in Sweden, October 
15, 1871, died in January, 1872: Delia (sec- 
ond), born in Cadillac July 17, 1873, was a 
teacher, Init l)ecame the wife of Andrew- 
Johnson, a lumber inspector at Manistee, 
and they have two children. Alma Elnora 
and Arthur Rudolph; George Antinian, 
born July 2~,. 1875, died October 12, 1901 : 
Selma Charlotte, born November 10, 1877, 
is the wife of Carl Olson, a boilermaker of 
West Superior, Wisconsin, and they have 
two children, Olive Edna and an infant 
daughter ; Victor Bennett, Ijorn February i , 
1880, and who is employed in the Michigan 
Iron \N'orks, at Cadillac, married Alfreda 
Precell and they have one son, Milburn I're- 
cell ; Pattie Albertina, l)orn January 25, 1882, 
is the wife of Jalmer Johnson, a farmer in 
tlam Lake townshi]). and they ha\e one 
son, Harold Raymond; Jennie Amelia, 
born January 5, 1884. died April 2^, 1884; 
David Paul, born I'ebruary 20, 1885, Gerda 
Elvira, born May 12, 1887, Jennie B., born 
.\pril 29, 1889. and Alma Olivia, born De- 
cember 9, 1891, are at home and are attend- 
ing school. Mrs. .-\nderson is one of se\en 
children born to her parents. Xels and Ann.a 
(Parson) Parson, both parents now de- 
cea.sed, the sur\iving children being as fol- 
lows: Sena is tlie wife of Nels Parson, a 
farmer of Hobart, this state; Mrs. .\nder- 
son ; Anna is the wife of b'rank LaRose, of 
Cadillac, and Olaf. who is married and con- 



WEXFORD COUXTY, MICHIGAN. 



553 



ducts a farm in Clam Lake iDwnsliip. Mr. 
and Mrs. Anderson hold memlicrshii) in the 
Swedish Lutheran church and are well 
known ])eople of this cuninuinity, having the 
regard of all with whom they have come 
in contact and the friendship of many. The 
hope that led Mr. Anderson to leave his na- 
tive land and seek a home in America has 
been more than realized. He found the op- 
portunities he sought — which, by the way, 
are always open to the ambitious, energetic 
man — and making the best of these he has 
steadily worked his way upward. He pos- 
sesses the resolution, perseverance and trust- 
worthiness so characteristic of people of his 
nation, and his name is now enrolled among 
the best citizens of Wexford county. When 
lie began life in Michigan his capital consist- 
ed of but fifteen dollars, while today he pos- 
sesses one h.undred and forty-five acres of 
land, and not a dollar of indebtedness against 

him. 

•♦ ■ » 

LUCAS W. GATES. 

For thirty-six years Lucas W. Gates has 
been a resident of Wexford county, and is 
now living a retired life in Manton, after 
many years of active connection with agri- 
cultural pursuits. He was born on a farm 
in Fowler township. Trumbull county, Ohio. 
May 15. 1842. a son of Martin R. Gates, a 
native oi Xew York and a farmer by occupa- 
tion. The mother bore the maiden name of 
Electa Rhodes, and both parents died upon 
the farm in Fowler township, wliere their 
married life had Ijeen passed. They were 
well-known representatives of agricultural 
interests in Trumbull county, and were peo- 
ple of the highest respectaliility. 



Lucas W. Gates was the youngest of 
their three children, tie was reared upon 
his father's farm, early becoming familiar 
with the work of the fields from the time of 
early spring planting until the crops were 
harvested in the late autumn. He was .still at 
home when, in April, 1863, when not yet 
twenty-one years of age, he offered his serv- 
ices to the government in defense of the 
L'nion and enlisted in the Trumbull Guards 
of United States Infantry. This was an in- 
dependent company, and was assigned to 
post duty at Gallipolis, Ohio, where they 
made their headquarters until the 2d of July, 
1865. when the command was mustered out. 
the war having been brought to a successful 
termination. 

When hostilities between the North and 
the South had ceased Mr. Gates returned to 
his father's farm in Trumbull county, Ohio, 
and there remained up to the time of his 
marriage, which occurred February 22, 
1867, the lady of his choice being Miss Eliza- 
beth Burns, a daughter of the late Jehu 
Burns, of that county. She was born in 
1842. The first summer after his marriage 
Mr. Gates cultivated his father's land, and 
then came to Wexford county, Michigan, 
where he arrived in August, 1867. He en- 
tered a homestead claim of eighty acres on 
section 18, Colfax township, took up his 
abode thereon, and. with characteristic ener- 
gy, began the development of a good farm, 
transforming the wild land into richly pro- 
duclixo fields. l'\)r twenty-four years he 
carried on general agricultural pursuits 
there, and in the fall of 1891 sold that proj)- 
ertv and removed to Manton, where he has 
since m.ide his home. He improved about 
iifty acres of his homestead. When he came 
to this countv he built a log house, and later 



554 



WEXFORD COUNTY. MICHIGAN. 



leplaced il by a more modern and commo- 
dious frame residence. He also built a good 
barn and other outbuildings necessary for 
the shelter of grain and stock. The country 
was entirely new and wild, and he was one of 
the earliest settlers of We.xford county. .\t 
the time of his arrival W'exfurd and Mis- 
saukee counties had not been divided, ruid 
one-half of the entire area was embraced 
within the Ijoundaries of Colfa.x township, 
(h'eat changes have occurred as the years 
have passed, and the land has been reclaimed 
for farming purposes, becoming the place of 
residence of a contented and prosperous pop- 
ulation. 

I'lito Mr. and Mrs. Gates ha\e Ijeen born 
two children, Rui)ert I), and Clifford M. 
Mr. dates l-.elongs to (). P. Morton Tost 
Xo. 34. 'irand .\rniy of the Uepubhc. and 
is a member of Manton Tent Xo. 220, 
Knights of the Maccabees. He has always 
been a stanch supporter of the Republican 
]iarty since attaining his majority, and upon 
that ticket he has been elected to a number of 
local offices. \\'hile living in Colfa.x town- 
ship he ser\ed for many years as township 
clerk, ;uid since coniing to .M.auton he has 
been a member of the citv council. 



WALTI'lR S. WILLIAMS. 

The gentleman to a lirief review of who.^e 
life and characteristics the reader's attention 
is herewith directed is among the foremost 
business men of Wexford county, Michigan, 
and has by his enterprise and progressive 
methods contributed in a material way to 
the industrial and commercial advancement 
t>f the county in which he resides. He has 



in the course (jf an honorable career been 
most successful in the business enterprises 
with which he has been connected, and is 
well deserving of mention among the repre- 
sentative men ol this section of the state. 

\\'alter S. Williams was born in Glouces- 
tershire, England, on the 9th of May, 1S56, 
and is the son of James and Paulina ('Pritch- 
ard ) Williams. They were the i)arerts 
of a large family of children, seven of whom 
grew to maturity, and of whom the subject 
was one of the older members. When he 
was about a year old his parents removed 
to America, locating in Canada, where they 
li\ed about seven years. Xot being satisfied 
with conditions there they removed to the 
I'nited States, locating in ,\urora, Illinois, 
where they resided about a year and a half, 
when they removed to ^b)ntague. Muskegon 
comity, Michigan. After a residence there 
of seven or eight years they again changed 
their abode, this time to Shelby. Oceana 
county. In 1884 the subject moved to Man- 
ton, where he has since continued to reside. 
James Williams was a man of enterprise and 
progressi\eness, and is credited with having 
started the first store at Shelby, where be was 
also engaged in the saw-mill business, being 
assisted in the latter business for several years 
by the subject. The father was highly re- 
spected antl imiversally esteeiued l)ecause of 
his many estimable personal qualities, and his 
death occurred in Shelliy at the age of alxnit 
sixty-one years. 

About the time W.altcr S. Williams at- 
tained his majorit)- he took charge ol the 
saw-mill Inisine.ss on his own account and 
operated it in this way about three years. 
On coming to Manton in 1884 he. in com- 
p;mv with a brother. George 1-". Wdliams. 
rented a sawmill and engaged in the manu- 



WEXFORD COUNTY. MICHIGAN. 



555 



facturiiig business. When lie assumed 
charge of the business at Shelby he also as- 
sumed a heavy indebtedness which had been 
incurred by his father. The subject, how- 
ever, devoted himself assiduously to the ob- 
ject of paying off this incumbrance, which he 
succeeded in doing to the last dollar, and at 
the time he came to jManton he was the pos- 
sessor of but ten dollars, which he at once 
paid down on the purchase of a building lot 
in the village, and on this lot his present 
comfortable and commodious residence now 
stands. Upon engaging in business here 
with his brother, George F., they were for 
stjme time engaged in manufacturing differ- 
ent articles, but about a year and a half later 
commenced the manufacture of shoe-last 
blocks. They conducted operations in the 
rented mill for a short time and then pur- 
chased a small mill. They gave their sole 
and undivided attention to the business, do- 
ing all the labor themselves, but at len.gth 
the business grew to such proportions that 
thev were compelled to hire other workmen, 
and made additions to the plant from time 
Id time, until at the present time they own 
the largest plant in the world devoted ex- 
clusively to the manufacture of rough turned 
last blocks. The factories consume a vast 
amount of hardwood timber, pay out a large 
sum of money in wages and in many ways 
have proven a direct and permanent benefit 
to the community. 

Mr. Williams has of recent years been 
interested to some e.xtent in other lines of 
enterprise and in 1897 he and his brother 
(jeorge F. incorporated under the name of 
the A\'illianis lirothers Company and en- 
gaged in the mamifacturing and mercantile 
business, .\bout two y&ars later they pur- 
chased the TrunKin Brothers" stock of gen- 



eral merchandise and, under the name of 
Williams Brothers continued business until 
September, 1902, when the Williams Mer- 
cantile Company was incorporated. At 
that time the subject was elected president 
and still holds that office. Mr. Williams also 
owns in his ow-n right eighty acres of good 
land in this count)^, and the firm of Williams 
Brothers Company own about five thousand 
acres of as good timber land as is to be found 
in Michigan. 

The subject has always taken a deep in- 
terest in local affairs and in state and nation- 
al politics casts his vote and influence in 
fa\'or of the Republican party, believing the 
principles of that party to be those most con- 
ducive to the welfare of the American peo- 
ple. He takes an intelligent and abiding in- 
terest in all questions before the public and 
casts his vote with his honest convictions. 
His fraternal affiliation is with the h'ree and 
Accepted Masons. 

On the 2ist day of January, 1881, Mr. 
Williams was unitetl in the holy bonds of 
matrimony with Miss Lydia Colburn, the 
ceremony being performed at Shelby, this 
state. Mrs. Williams is a daughter of Will- 
iam anil Jane Colburn, and was born at 
Missouri on the 21st day of September. 1862. 
This union has been blessed by the birth of 
three children, Maud, Abbie and Mart. 
Longfellow said, "The talent of success is 
nothing more than doing what you can 
do well and doing well whatever you do, 
without any thought of fame." Illustrative 
of this sentiment has been the life of the sub- 
ject and his career should serve as an incen- 
ti\e and .an inspiration for others. He is 
a man of marked ilomestic tastes, wliose life 
is devoted to his wife, children and home. 
Mrs. Williams is a lady possessed of quali- 



556 



WEXFORD COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



lies wliich have retained her tlie love and 
grateful appreciation of her loved ones and 
won for her the sincere regard and esteem 
of a large circle of warm and admiring 
friends. • 

4 » » 

HRXRY M, I'.ILLIXGS. 

The history of Michigan is not an ancient 
one. It is the record of the steady growth 
of a community, planted m the wilderness 
in the last centurj- and reaching its magni- 
tude of today without other aids than those 
of continued industry. Each county has its 
share in the story of every county that can 
lay claim to some incident or transaction 
which goes to make up the history of a com- 
monwealth. After all, the history of a 
state is but the record of the doings of its 
people, among whom the pioneers and their 
sturd)' descendants occupy places of no sec- 
ondary imj)ortance. The storv of the plain 
common people who constitute the moral 
bone and sinew of the state should ever at- 
tract attention and prove of interest to all 
true lovers of this kind. In the life story 
of Henry M. Billings, the subject of this 
sketch, there are no striking chapters or 
startling incidents. It is merely the record 
of a life true to its highest ideals and fraught 
with much that should stimulate the youth 
just starting in the world as an independent 
factor. 

Henry M. Billings, of Cedar Creek town- 
ship. \\^exford county, is a native of New 
Vork. He was born in Lebanon, Columbia 
county, August 29, 1839. His parents were 
Jonathan B. and Mary Jane (Elmore) Bill- 
ings, the former born in Vermont and the 
latter in New York. Thev were married 



in the latter state and some time thereafter 
moved to ^lichigan, locating at Detroit, 
where he engaged in the produce business. 
It pro\ed a very successful venture and he 
continued in it until he had accumulated a 
competence. Detroit was their home during 
all the remaining years of their lives. His 
death occurred about the time he had 
reached the patriarchial age of three score 
and ten years, while she sur\ived him near- 
ly twenty years, expiring in the eighty-fifth 
} ear of her age. They were the parents of 
four children, of whom Henry M. was the 
second. 

The first eighteen years of the life of 
Henr\- M. Billings were spent in his native 
count)^ of New York, where he secured a 
good common school education. In 1855 '^^ 
came t^i Michigan and assisted his father in 
the conduct of his produce business in the 
city of Detroit. He continued in the busi- 
ness until after the breaking out of the war 
of the Rebellion when, in September, 1862, 
he enlisted as a pri\ate soldier in Company 
D, Sixth ^Michigan \'olunteer Infantry, and 
served until the close of the war, nearly three 
years. He saw considerable service, took 
l)art in a number of important battles, among 
them that of Gettysburg, after which he 
was put upon detached duty in the oH'ice 
of the medical department at ^^'ashington, 
where he remainetl until he was mustered 
out of the service, in the fall of 1865. While 
in Washington he was stricken with typhoid 
lever. For weeks he suffered with the dread 
disease, his life, like that of the nation at 
the time, being as it were poised in the l)al- 
ance. He escaped death, but it was a long 
time liefore he was fully restored to health. 

On being tlischarged from the army Mr. 
Billings came to Bvron. Shiawassee county, 



WEXFORD COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



557 



IMichigan, and tliere engaged in tlie mer- 
cantile business for about two years. There, 
on December 24, 1861, he married Emma 
C. H. Allen, of Byron, who died November 
24, 1867. They had one son, Wilbur Allen, 
born November 19, 1863, who now resides 
in St. Louis, Missouri. On the 25th day of 
May, 1869, ]Mr. Billings was united in mar- 
riage to Miss Carrie A. Roberts, a native 
of Shiawassee county, born May 16, 1850. 
Her parents were Isaac L. and Harriet R. 
l-loberts, natives of New York, who came 
to Michigan in 1840, located near Byron, 
where they resided during the remaining 
years of their life. 

Mr. and Mrs. Billings are the parents of 
two daughters, Stena P. and Edna. The 
former is the wife of M. P. Phillips, of Ban- 
croft, Michigan, while the latter makes her 
home willi her parents in Manton. In 
1872 the subject went to Grand Traverse 
county, where he entered the employ of ITul- 
bert Brothers as cashier and bookkeeper, re- 
maining in their service two years. On the 
opening of the station of the Grand Rapids 
& Indiana Railroad at Fife Lake he was 
offered and accepted the position of station 
agent, which he held for two years, when he 
was given a place, as accountant, in the of- 
fice of the auditor of the road at Grand 
Rapids. He faithfully served the company 
at the latter place and various points along 
the line of the road. A position being of- 
fered him by the Grand Trunk Railroad, at 
Bancroft, Michigan, he accepted it and 



served that company as station agent at that 
point until 1882, when he resigned the posi- 
tion and came to Manton and engaged in 
the lumber business with Closson & Gilbert, 
for a number of years. During all of these 
changes from one locality to another his fam- 
ily continued to reside and he made his home 
at Bancroft. He lived in that place altogeth- 
er about eighteen years. In 1886, being em- 
ployed in Manton as bookkeeper, he moved 
his family to that place and there they have 
since resided. Being the owner of a nice 
tract of land, forty acres in extent, adjoining 
the village of Manton, he platted one-fourth 
of it as an addition to the village and on the 
other thirty he runs a poultry farm and dairy. 
He has made the business quite profitable, 
despite the fact that he has very little time 
to devote to it. Since living in Manton he 
has held the position of township and village 
treasurer, each three years, and takes an ac- 
ti\e interest in all that relates to the welfare 
of the locality. Mr. Billings is a member of 
the Grand Army of the Republic. He is a 
man who during the course of his long and 
eventfid career has accomplished much good 
not only for his own household but for many 
others. He has made the world brighter 
and better for his presence and when the 
time comes for him to cease life's labors and 
join the great majority, he will be sadly 
missed by those whose burdens he lightened 
and into whose life he brought so much of 
kindness and love. 



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